Omid Scobie has tried to ‘re-brand’ as an ‘A-list celebrity’ after fleeing UK

Omid Scobie seemed to be “proud” of being snapped by paparazzi after fleeing the UK and settling in Los Angeles, according to a body language expert.

The royal author was seen ringing in the New Year alone in America after causing an uproar with the release of his explosive book Endgame. The book reignited the royal race row after a Dutch translation named King Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two members of the royal household who allegedly raised “concerns” about the skin colour of Meghan and Harry’s then-unborn son.

Omid made headlines around the world with the book’s release, causing him to opt for a new life in the States. Body language expert Judi James has said the journalist’s recent appearance looked like he is now trying to transform into a celebrity.

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Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, she said: “What we have here is a man who appears to have re-branded himself in the style of the people he writes about, suggesting Scobie now sees himself as an A-list name in the US. His outfit is pure Justin Bieber-chic with a hint of Meghan in there too, although unlike Bieber, Omid seems to have settled for a top-to-toe co-ordinated look rather than throwing together some more eclectic choices, which is a common error with wannabe celebrities who are trying too hard.”

The expert added: “Scobie’s upright posture as he is greeted by the cameras suggests some pride in being papped like a celebrity although there are also some hints that the Endgame dramas might also have prompted some kind of objective confusion as he also manages to look wary of any form of direct communication with the press, with his cap brim pulled over his giant shades; his jacket carried over his arm as a barrier, and with his phone held up aloft at waist height to make it look as though he is in the middle of a virtual meeting.”

Omid recently performed a U-turn and admitted he did name the alleged “royal racists” in an “early” version of his book. The writer said that “uncleared text” was provided to a Dutch publisher with plans that a translation “would be updated to reflect the final version of the book”.

Dutch publisher Xander Uitgevers originally said an “error” had occurred which saw Charles and Kate named. Omid went on to repeatedly deny ever having named the royals. He told the BBC: “The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it.” But writing for the i online, he said: “The only publisher I worked directly with was the one covering the US and UK.

“Unbeknownst to me at the time, early and uncleared text was provided to the Dutch publisher for them to start on translation, with the understanding their translation would be updated to reflect the final version of the book I officially submitted.” He said versions in other countries “perfectly replicated” the finished work, adding: “The finished book I sub­­mitted was not the version published in the Netherlands.”

The Royal Family were said to be “united in outrage” after the King and Princess of Wales were dragged into the royal race row. The Sussexes originally made the allegations during a chat with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 but chose not to name the people involved.

When the Sussexes made their explosive allegations on Oprah, in an interview broadcast around the world, they set in train a public debate about who in the royal family might harbour such racially charged views. In a multicultural modern Britain such allegations against the monarchy generated debate on a matter of such public importance with Scobie’s new book claiming to add to that public debate.

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