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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Daniel Keane

Royals' united front at palace reception amid race row

The Royal Family presented a united front at a glittering reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday amid the race row following the publication of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame.

The white-tie event is held every year and sees more than 500 members of the Diplomatic Corps hosted in the palace’s state rooms.

Royal women traditionally wear tiaras and other jewellery pieces for the occasion – a highlight of the royal calendar in the run-up to Christmas.

Camilla wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara with a diamond brooch which belonged to the late Queen Mother and a diamond bracelet which belonged to the late Queen.

The tiara, worn by the late Queen in her accession photographs, was a wedding gift from her grandmother, Queen Mary, when Princess Elizabeth married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.

Kate dazzled in the Lover’s Knot Tiara, a diamond and pearl-encrusted headpiece made in 1914, which was often worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. She also wore a sparkling pale pink dress by Jenny Packham with the Royal Family Order and Greville diamond chandelier earrings.

It is the first time that senior members of the monarchy have been seen together since the publication of Endgame, which has sparked a race row.

Last week it emerged that a Dutch edition of the book was published with claims that the King and his daughter in-law, the Princess of Wales, had made remarks about Archie’s skin colour while Meghan Markle was pregnant.

The Endgame writer, seen by some royal-watchers as close to Archie’s parents Harry and Meghan, previously insisted he “never submitted a book that had those names in it” but it has now been reported that his agent sent a draft of the controversial tome to publisher Xander Uitgevers which contained the names.

Mr Scobie has refused to apologise for the mishap which saw the book pulled off the shelves in the Netherlands and pulped.

The diplomatic reception is usually held every December, but there was a pause in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.

The reception traditionally includes a buffet supper and dancing.

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