Royal Aide Steps Down After Racist Comments at Buckingham Palace

LONDON (Reuters) – A member of the British royal family’s household has apologised and resigned from her honorary role after making “unacceptable and deeply regrettable” comments about race and nationality to a woman at a grand reception held at Buckingham Palace yesterday, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Ngozi Fulani, who was born in Britain and works as Head of Service for Sistah Space, a domestic abuse support group, wrote on Twitter that the royal aide had repeatedly asked her: “What part of Africa are you from?” when she attended an event hosted by King Charles’s wife Camilla, the queen consort, on Tuesday

Fulani tweeted: “Mixed feelings about yesterday’s visit to Buckingham Palace. 10 mins after arriving, a member of staff, Lady SH, approached me, moved my hair to see my name badge. The conversation below took place (see bottom of article). The rest of the event is a blur…”

While Sistah Space said they did not wish to reveal the person involved, it was a little late since Fulani had already referred to her in her tweet and accompanying image as ‘Lady SH’.

The British press have named Lady SH as 81-year-old Lady Susan Hussey, Prince William’s Godmother and lady-in-waiting to the late Queen for decades. Lady Hussey was known as being more a ‘friend’ than an employee to Queen Elizabeth II and while working in the royal household – since 1960 – never drew a salary.

Sistah Space said they wish for the ‘system’ to be revised, and said of Lady SH that “yes the person was offensive, but it serves no purpose to name & shame her; it would make us just as bad. We prefer that this be handled kindly ??”

Buckingham Palace said in a statement:

“We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full details. In this instance, unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made.”

The incident is the latest to embroil the royal family in allegations of racism, after Charles’s youngest son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan made accusations in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.

Meghan, in the interview, said one unnamed member of the family had asked, before their son Archie was born, how dark his skin might be.

The allegation clearly stung the monarchy, which promised any such issues would be treated very seriously, and prompted Harry’s older brother Prince William, heir to the throne, to remark days later: “We’re very much not a racist family.”

Buckingham Palace said the individual concerned in the latest incident would like to apologise for the hurt caused and had stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect.

The exchange occurred at a Violence Against Women And Girls’ reception at the palace, where guests included Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska, Belgium’s Queen Mathilde, Jordan’s Queen Rania and Denmark’s Princess Mary.

In her account posted on Twitter, Fulani, who works for Sistah Space – a group which provides support for women of African and Caribbean heritage who have been affected by abuse – said about 10 minutes after she arrived, the aide approached her and moved her hair to view her name badge.

After being asked a number of times what part of Africa she was from, Fulani said she replied: “I am born here and am British.”

The aide responded: “No, but where do you really come from, where do your people come from?”

Last year, a senior royal source said Buckingham Palace had not done enough on diversity, although it has been endeavouring to boost the number of staff from ethnic minorities.

“We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani on this matter, and are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes,” the palace spokesperson said.

“All members of the Household are being reminded of the diversity and inclusivity policies which they are required to uphold at all times.”

(Reporting by Sarah Young / Reuters and Jenni Baxter / SAPeople; editing by Michael Holden, Bernadette Baum and Jenni Baxter)