Claims that Prince Charles asked Harry and Meghan about the colour of baby Archie's skin have been rubbished by Buckingham Palace, who said they are "fiction and not worth comment".
According to Brothers And Wives: Inside The Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan, a book by author Christopher Andersen, Charles, 73, questioned what his grandchild's complexion might be like during a conversation with wife Camilla.
The discussion allegedly took place on the morning Harry and Meghan's engagement was officially announced, November 27, 2017, the book claims.
A well-placed source told the royal author that Charles said to Camilla: "I wonder what the children will look like."
She is said to have been "somewhat taken aback" by the comment, and responded: "Well, absolutely gorgeous, I'm certain."
The insider claims Charles then lowered his voice and asked: "I mean, what do you think their children's complexion might be?"
Andersen writes that he asked the question in an innocent way and after Chinese whispers took hold, the comments were given a more sinister spin.
Blaming a group of high-level Palace advisers known as the "Men in Grey", Andersen writes: "The question posed by Charles was being echoed in a less innocent way throughout the halls of Buckingham Palace."
The book, out on Tuesday, also alleges that Charles told his son he was being "overly sensitive about the matter".
A spokesperson for the prince rubbished the claims and told The New York Post: "This is fiction and not worth further comment."
The news adds fuel to the fire around the famous interview the royals did with Oprah Winfrey in March, where they alleged that a "senior royal" had speculated about Archie's complexion.
The Sussexes told the TV host there had been conversations with a "family member" about what their unborn son's skin colour would be and "what that would mean or look like".
The pair chose not to reveal the identity of the perpetrator, with Meghan saying that it would be "damaging" for them.
Harry agreed and said he would "never share" the full details of the discussion.
Oprah later revealed it was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh who made the comment, telling CBS This Morning: "He did not share the identity with me but he wanted to make sure I knew, and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother or grandfather that were part of those conversations."
