[imagesource: Twitter / @WendtheWalker]

One of the late Queen’s closest confidants and ladies in waiting for more than 50 years, Lady Susan Hussey, really put her foot in it during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

The 83-year-old was caught out repeatedly questioning Ngozi Fulani, chief executive of charity Sistah Space, about where she was from.

“No, but where are you from, from?” – you can just hear the rookie error as it ricochets off the decorated palace walls.

As it stands, the godmother of Prince William has stepped down from her honorary role and offered her “profound apologies for the hurt caused”, according to a spokesperson for the Prince of Wales.

The spokesperson, per Sky News, said it was “really disappointing” to hear what had happened:

“Obviously, I wasn’t there, but racism has no place in our society. The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect,” the Kensington Palace spokesperson said.

Fulani, the advocate for survivors of domestic abuse, described the exchange as a “violation”:

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. The rest of the event is a blur.
Thanks @ManduReid & @SuzanneEJacob for support🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/OUbQKlabyq

— Sistah Space (@Sistah_Space) November 30, 2022

This really doesn’t mix well with the fact that last year Meghan Markle claimed that a member of the royal household had raised concerns about what colour skin her son Archie would have before he was born.

The Evening Standard has the full exchange from the evening at the palace:

Lady SH: “Where are you from?”

Ms Fulani: “Sistah Space.”

Lady SH: “No where do you come from?

Ms Fulani: “We’re based in Hackney.”

Lady SH: “No, what part of Africa are YOU from?”

Ms Fulani: “I don’t know, they didn’t leave any records.”

Lady SH: “Well, you must know where you’re from, I spent time in France. Where are you from?”

Ms Fulani: “Here, UK”

Lady SH: “No, but what Nationality are you?”

Ms Fulani: “I am born here and am British.”

Lady SH: “No, but where do you really come from, where do your people come from?”

Ms Fulani: “‘My people’, lady, what is this?”

Lady SH: “Oh I can see I am going to have a challenge getting you to say where you’re from. When did you first come here?”

Ms Fulani: “Lady! I am a British national, my parents came here in the 50’s when…”

Lady SH: “Oh, I knew we’d get there in the end, you’re Caribbean!”

Ms Fulani: “No lady, I am of African heritage, Caribbean descent and British nationality.”

Lady SH: “Oh so you’re from….”

Buckingham Palace, for their part, said they were sorry and that Fulani is welcome to come and chat further about the incident, adding too that “all members of the household are being reminded of the diversity and inclusivity policies which they are required to uphold at all times.”

Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, said she was “stunned” when she heard the conversation play out next to her:

She told Sky News: “It was really uncomfortable. If Ngozi was a white woman there is no way that line of questioning would have taken place. It’s not what you expect.”

“We weren’t gate crashers, but we were made to feel almost like trespassers.”

Throughout, Fulani has remained kind and fair:

Thanks everyone for their support. It is not our wish to reveal the person involved, it is the system that needs to be revised.
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 🙏🏾

— Sistah Space (@Sistah_Space) November 30, 2022

Fulani said “nobody from the palace has spoken to me”, but she would be “happy to have a conversation to bring about a positive solution”.

As Mandu Reid also said, Lady Hussey doesn’t need to step down and say sorry, but rather, she needs to “step up” and acknowledge that “institutional racism is part of the culture”.

[sources:skynews&eveningstandard]