This Wednesday (30), Ngozi Fulani, director of the organization defending victims of gender-based violence Sistah Space, said on the entity's Twitter page that a person from the royal entourage, who she identified as “Lady SH”, had insistently asked about her African origin during a reception held the day before (29) at Buckingham Palace to discuss combating violence against women.
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Anti-domestic violence activist, Ngozi Fulani said he was repeatedly questiontold by Willian's godmother about his ancestors during the meeting.
After responding that she was born and raised in the United Kingdom, the woman allegedly insisted: “No, but where do you come from in Africa?”, “When did you first come?”
Another activist, Mandu Reid, from the Women's Equality Party, witnessed the incident, which she described as “painful” and an “interrogation”.
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Clearance
Buckingham Palace took Tuesday's incident “extremely seriously” and, in a statement, called the comments “unacceptable and truly regrettable”.
“We have made contact with Ngozi Fulani and are inviting her to speak about her experience in person, if she so wishes,” he said.
“The person in question [Ms. Hussey] wishes to express her deepest apologies and has stepped down from her honorary role with immediate effect,” the statement assured, highlighting that all members of the royal family were “reminded that they are obliged to observe the time all diversity and inclusion policies”.
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Susan Hussey was for decades Elizabeth II's lady-in-waiting and one of her trusted assistants. She accompanied her in the car to her husband's funeral in April 2021.
The queen consort, Camilla Parker Bowles, retained Hussey, although she renounced her retinue of ladies-in-waiting.
Widow of a former BBC president, her character appears in an episode of the final season of the Netflix series “The Crown”.
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Visit to the USA
William and Kate arrived at Boston's Logan International Airport on a commercial flight for a three-day visit to talk about climate change. They were greeted at the foot of the plane's steps by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
Afterwards, they would be received by the mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, the American climate envoy, John Kerry, and the American ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, at the city's City Hall.
This is the couple's first overseas visit since William became heir to the British throne in September when his father became King Charles III following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
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The couple's last visit to the United States dates back to 2014, when the two were in New York and Washington, a trip that included a reception at the White House with the then American president, Barack Obama, and his vice president, Joe Biden, now head of the Executive.
The White House announced that Biden will meet with the Princes of Wales on Friday.
Regarding the episode of racism, the couple's spokesperson in Boston stated: “Racism has no place in our society”, and assured that these “comments are unacceptable and it is fair that the person has left with immediate effect”.
According to the spokesperson, William was not involved in the decision, but “believes” it was “the right thing” and “will not comment”.
(With AFP)
