A service member of the British royal family has lost his position after making “unacceptable and deeply regrettable” comments about race and nationality to a woman at a grand reception at Buckingham Palace, a crown spokesman admitted today. . Ngozi Fulani, who was born in Britain and works for a domestic violence support group, wrote on Twitter that a royal aide had repeatedly asked him “what part of Africa are you from?” her when she attended an event hosted Tuesday by Camila, wife of King Charles and queen consort.
“We take this incident extremely seriously and have immediately investigated to establish all the details. In this case, unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said in a statement collected by Reuters. The incident is the latest to embroil the royal family in accusations of racism, after Prince Harry and his wife Meghan made the allegations in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
On that occasion, Meghan claimed that an anonymous family member had asked, before her son Archie was born, how dark his skin could be. The accusation clearly angered the monarchy, which promised that any such problem would be treated very seriously, prompting Harry’s older brother, Prince William, heir to the throne, to comment days later: “We are not a racist family.” . Buckingham Palace has responded to today’s controversy to disclose that the person involved in the latest incident, whom Fulani refers to as Lady SH, wanted to apologize for the damage caused and had stepped down from her honorary position with effect immediate.
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 and Jordan’s Queen Rania.
In her account posted on Twitter, Fulani, who works for Sistah Space – a group that provides support to women of African and Caribbean descent who have been affected by abuse – explains that, about 10 minutes after her arrival, the assistant approached her and moved her hair to see her nameplate. After being asked several times what part of Africa she was from, Fulani claims she replied, “I was born here and I’m British.” Her helper replied, “No, but where do you really come from, where do your people come from?”
Last year, a senior royal source acknowledged that Buckingham Palace had not done enough for diversity, though it has made efforts to increase the number of ethnic minority staff. “We have communicated with Ngozi Fulani on this matter and we are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes,” the palace spokesman said today. “All members of the house are reminded of the diversity and inclusion policies that they must maintain at all times.”
