The writers who peddle royal gossip to America
OMID SCOBIE started his career on the celebrity magazine Heat before moving on to cover the royals. He is now Royal Editor at Large for Harper’s Bazaar.
Born to a Scottish father who runs a marketing agency and an Iranian mother who works in child welfare, he said he left Heat after an executive called him a ‘Paki’.
He is a royal contributor for Good Morning America and host of ABC’s royal podcast, ‘The Heir Pod’.
Mr Scobie has boasted of his exclusive access to the couple. He is described in the blurb for the book as ‘an authoritative voice on the lives and philanthropic endeavors of the Royal Family’s younger members and maintains strong access to the Sussexes’ working world’. There was confusion over his age at the weekend after he told Times feature writer Andrew Billen he was 33. Public records suggest he is 39. He failed to respond to a request for comment.
CAROLYN DURAND, an American, has spent 18 years working in London covering the royals for The Oprah Magazine, Elle Magazine and other American and British news outlets.
She also worked for ABC News in London and knew Mr Scobie from royal events. Miss Durand, who describes herself as a ‘journalist, producer and storyteller’ is said to have approached him about writing a book two years ago at the time of the couple’s wedding.
Miss Durand has also been vocal in her support for the couple.
Asked if Meghan joining the Royal Family was ‘doomed to failure’ she said: ‘I wouldn’t say that they’re doomed to failure. I’m not sure that that’s accurate.
‘I think in five years or ten years we can maybe make a more accurate judgment on where things stand and if this is the right thing for Harry and Meghan and the right thing for the Royal Family.’