Kate Middleton and Prince William Ignore Reporters’ Questions on Royal Book Scandal on Red Carpet

Kate Middleton and Prince William kept calm and carried on amid the controversy.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 41, hit the red carpet at the Royal Variety Performance on Thursday night. As they got out of the car, journalists threw questions about Omid Scobie’s new book Game over. The Dutch translation of the book is being temporarily removed from store shelves because it allegedly names family members involved in a conversation that included a controversial comment about the skin color of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s child before birth. On Wednesday night, Piers Morgan named the royal family on his show.

As seen in a video shot by PEOPLE’s Simon Perry at the event, reporters shouted, “Your Royal Highness, do you have any comment on Omid Scobie’s book?” and “Did you watch Piers Morgan’s show last night, Your Royal Highnesses?”

Prince William and Princess Kate didn’t answer or take questions, walking towards each other and briefly holding hands before William put his hand on his wife’s back and they walked down the red carpet.

Game over Book pulled from Dutch shelves after Royal name ‘mistake’ after comment about Archie’s skin colour

Buckingham Palace had no comment. PEOPLE understands the palace is considering all options regarding the situation.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Scobie says, “After writing and editing only the English version Game over, I can only comment on that manuscript — which does not mention the names of the two people who participated in the conversation. I am glad to hear that the error in the translation of the Dutch edition is being corrected.”

The Dutch publishers call it a “mistake” and say in a statement to PEOPLE, “Corrected release Eindstrijd Omid Scobie will be in bookstores on Friday, December 8. Xander Uitgevers temporarily removed the book from sale due to an error that occurred in the Dutch edition.”

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the Royal Variety Performance on November 30, 2023.

DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty

King Charles says it’s ‘fine… except it’s not’ amid royal book controversy

Prince Harry (39) and Meghan (42) are the parents of a 4-year-old son, Prince Archie, and a 2-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet.

In the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said there were “concerns and conversations about how dark it is [Archie’s] skin could be when she’s born.” When Oprah asked who made the comment, Meghan declined to answer, saying the revelation would be too damaging.

Prince Harry added: “I will never share that conversation. It was embarrassing. I was a bit shocked.”

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the Royal Variety Performance on November 30, 2023.

DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty

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Members of the royal family traditionally attend the Royal Variety Performance each year, and this year’s show had an extra royal presence, as Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden also stepped out for the event.

The couple is on a three-day visit to Great Britain, and Prince William and Princess Kate welcomed them to Windsor Castle earlier on Thursday.

Kate Middleton attends the Royal Variety Performance on November 30, 2023.

DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty

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Source: HIS Education