The Amsterdam bookseller shook her head. Here she was with a pile of books that she hoped would sell like hotcakes - the Dutch version of Omid Scobie's Endgame. But she had just been told that she must return them to the publisher.

The reason given was a "translation error". But that may not be the real one. The Dutch version is said to name a member of the Royal Family accused by Prince HarryThe second son of Britain's King Charles III. He decided to leave the UK to move to the USA in 2020. and Meghan MarkleAn American actress and the wife of Prince Harry. Also known as the Duchess of Sussex. of racism. 

The book makes other damaging claims. It calls Prince William "hot-headed." It says he tried to upstage King Charles and "didn't have much confidence in his father to do the right thing."

The Princess of Wales is accused of "jokingly shivering" whenever Meghan's name is mentioned. She is also accused of being cold to people she does not like.

According to Scobie, King Charles is envious of his sons' popularity. Queen Camilla is said to have thanked Piers MorganThe British journalist was sacked as editor of the Daily Mirror for running fake photographs of alleged torture by British soldiers in Iraq, and resigned from Good Morning Britain after making disparaging remarks about the Duchess of Sussex. for calling Meghan "Princess PinocchioA fictional character whose nose gets longer when he lies. ".

The family as a whole is criticised for not defending Meghan against accusations of bullying. Scobie sums it up as "tone-deafInsensitive to how something might sound to other people. , racist and financially reckless."

Endgame has received some scathing reviews, with The Times dismissing it as "royal guff."

But in The Guardian Zoe Williams reports that republicans have been encouraged by criticism of the family - particularly since the late Queen's death.

The two sides of the argument were put forward in a debate held by the New Statesman. Professor Anna Whitelock said the monarchy was costly and above the law. It also reinforced the idea that "some people by birth, not merit, are better than others."

But the journalist Robert Hardman said a president would be just as expensive. The good thing about the Royal Family is that it is above party politics. It also gives Britain enormous soft powerA kind of power based on shaping the preferences of others through appeal and incentives. It is contrasted with hard power, based on simple coercion..  

Yes: The book's revelations about a family already seen as out of touch and expensive are the last straw. They may be largely tittle-tattle, but they add to the sense of decay, decline and pointlessness.

No: King Charles is hugely respected across the world, above all as a champion of the environment, while Prince William shows a real understanding of young people's concerns. Scobie is clearly biased.   

Or... Even if the monarchy were to be abolished in Britain, it might well survive in other countries which recognise Charles as their king - including Scotland if it became independent.