The Amsterdam bookseller shook her head in frustration. Here she was with a pile of books that she hoped would sell like hotcakes - the Dutch version of Omid Scobie's Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival. But she had just been told that she must return them to the publisher, thanks to a "translation error".

At least, that was the official reason. But there seems to have been more to it than that. The Dutch version is reported to include the name of a senior member of the Royal Family accused of racism.  

The accusation echoes an interview with Prince Harry and Meghan MarkleAn American actress and the wife of Prince Harry. Also known as the Duchess of Sussex. by Oprah Winfrey. In it they said that, when Meghan was pregnant with their son Archie, someone in the Royal Family asked about what colour his skin might be when he was born.

The allegation caused an enormous furoreAn excited or angry reaction. It was originally an Italian word meaning "rage" or "madness"., which Scobie's book has reignited.

Scobie paints a picture of the monarchy in which everyone is awful apart from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This has led to accusations of bias, with The Guardian describing him as "the Sussexes' journalist supporter-in-chief".

The book makes several other damaging claims. Prince William is described as a "hot-headed" character who 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, and of ignoring her "cries for help". She is also accused of being cold to people she does not like.

According to Scobie, King Charles is envious of his sons' popularity. He is said to have ordered Harry and Meghan out of their home at Frogmore CottageA royal home close to Windsor Castle. as a punishment, and to be hurt that William did not involve him in his Earthshot prizeA global environmental award given out each year. . Queen Camilla is alleged 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-deaf, 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 emboldened by criticism of the family and by the change of monarch. "While the Queen was alive," one told her, "it was much harder to convince people that getting rid of her was a good idea."

The two sides of the argument were eloquently expressed in a debate organised by the New StatesmanA left-wing political magazine dating from 1913. George Bernard Shaw was one of its first directors.. Professor Anna Whitelock criticised the monarchy for being expensive and above the law and reinforcing the idea that "some people by birth, not merit, are better than others".

But the journalist Robert Hardman argued that a president would be equally expensive and far more divisive, while the monarchy gave stability and 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.  

Meghan Markle - An American actress and the wife of Prince Harry. Also known as the Duchess of Sussex.

Furore - An excited or angry reaction. It was originally an Italian word meaning "rage" or "madness".

Frogmore Cottage - A royal home close to Windsor Castle.

Earthshot prize - A global environmental award given out each year.

Piers Morgan - The 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.

Pinocchio - A fictional character whose nose gets longer when he lies.

New Statesman - A left-wing political magazine dating from 1913. George Bernard Shaw was one of its first directors.

Soft power - A kind of power based on shaping the preferences of others through appeal and incentives. It is contrasted with hard power, based on simple coercion.