The pressure is on King Charles, as he tries to navigate and calm the first major upset of his reign

LONDON: A godmother of Prince William quit the royal household and apologised for repeatedly asking a black British woman where she was “really” from, plunging Buckingham Palace into a fresh racism row.

Lady Susan Hussey was one of the late Queen’s closest aides; the lady in waiting who accompanied her to Prince Philip’s funeral.

She is Prince William’s godmother and is said to be very close to the family.

Such was the respect for her within the royal household, she kept an honorary position after the Queen died. Her role was supposed to help and assist at formal palace events, an extra representative of the Royal Family. But her comments to a prominent black domestic abuse campaigner are at best a naïve misjudgement, and at worst, a sign of deep misunderstanding and racism within the palace.

Buckingham Palace has responded, Lady Hussey has resigned. But the conversation cannot be undone.

This isn’t the first time the Royal Family has had to face uncomfortable accusations of institutional racism. Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah raised serious concerns, with Meghan accusing the family of “concerns and conversations” about the colour of Archie’s skin while she was pregnant.

The couple are due to receive a Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights award for speaking out and showing “moral courage” by standing up to the “structural racism” within the institution.

Harry and Meghan quit royal life in early 2020 and moved to California, winning many fans among younger people and in the black community for taking on the British establishment. The UK media, though, has repeatedly accused them of exaggerating their unhappy plight as members of the royal family but the couple may point to the latest allegations as vindication.

The palace was earlier this year accused of being tone deaf to calls from Caribbean countries which still have Charles as head of state to acknowledge Britain’s past role in slavery.

Susan Hussey’s resignation came just as William and his wife Kate made their first visit to the United States in eight years and after racism claims from his brother Harry and mixed-race sister-in-law, Meghan.

Prince William in the past has said the family “are very much not racist” when challenged by a reporter.

But the issue hasn’t gone away. His spokesperson has quickly condemned the recent comments as “unacceptable”, ahead of a visit to Boston by the Prince and Princess of Wales. They may have to say and do more. Their tour of the Caribbean was described by many as a throwback to colonialism, with unfortunate photos of the couple shaking hands with children through wire fences, on top of the imperial-looking white Land Rover parade. The optics went wrong.

There remain huge challenges for William and Kate if they are to change the narrative. But even bigger pressures on the King as he tries to navigate and calm the first major upset of his reign.

In Boston, a spokesman for the royal couple told reporters: “Racism has no place in our society.

“These comments were unacceptable, and it’s right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect.” William was not involved in the decision but “believes it’s the right course of action to be taken”, the spokesman added. “He won’t be commenting further.”

Ngozi Fulani, the chief executive of the London-based Sistah Space group which campaigns for survivors of domestic abuse, said the comments came as she attended a palace reception. Asked where she was from, Fulani said Hackney, northeast London, prompting the woman whom she identified only as “Lady SH” to ask: “No, what part of Africa are you from?”

Fulani said she was born and raised in the UK and was British but the woman persisted.

“Where do you really come from, where do your people come from?… When did you first come here?” she was asked. Fulani repeated that she was a British national born in the UK and was forced to say she was “of African heritage, Caribbean descent”.

The exchange, she wrote on Twitter, left her with “mixed feelings” about the reception, which was hosted by Camilla to highlight violence against women and girls.

Women’s Equality Party leader Mandu Reid, who witnessed the exchange, called it “grim” and like an “interrogation”. She said it felt as if they were “not being treated as if we belong” or “as if we are British”.

Unacceptable

Buckingham Palace said it took the incident “extremely seriously” and called the comments “unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.

“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,” a statement read. “In the meantime, the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect.

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

British media outlets all quoted palace sources as confirming it was Hussey who made the remarks.

William and Kate are on a three-day visit to Boston, where Charles’s heir will award the Earthshot Prize for initiatives to tackle climate change.

William and Kate’s visit to Jamaica was also criticised for smacking of colonialism.

Courtesy: Sky News with input from AFP