A member of the Buckingham Palace has resigned after she asked a prominent black advocate for survivors of domestic violence where 'her people come from'
In a Twitter post, Ngozi Fulani, who runs a women's domestic abuse charity, claims she was questioned about her ethnicity by Lady Susan Hussey. The 83-year-old was one of the late monarch's most trusted friends and is Prince William's godmother.
The Palace slammed the 'unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments' made during the Queen Consort's reception on violence against women on Tuesday.
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Buckingham Palace said it had taken the incident 'extremely seriously' and had investigated immediately, the Mirror reports. A royal source confirmed Hussey had departed from her honoary role in the household.
Ngozi Fulani, chief executive of Sistah Space, detailed the conversation on Twitter, describing it as a "violation" and said the experience will 'never leave me.'
Ms Fulani, said the household member challenged her when she said her charity was based in Hackney, saying: "Where do you come from?"
In a conversation that followed, the member of the household allegedly continued to ask "what nationality are you?", "where do your people come from?" and "what part of Africa are you from?"
Eventually, Ngozi says she replied: "I am a British national, my parents came here in the 1950s," before Hussey responded with: "Oh, I knew we'd get there in the end, you're Caribbean."
Ngozi says she then corrected the aristocrat by responding with: "No, I am of African heritage, Caribbean descent and British nationality."
Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, who was next to Ms Fulani and witnessed the exchange, told the PA news agency they were treated almost like "trespassers."
Ms Reid said: "We really felt 'oh, OK, we’re being treated almost like trespassers in this place.' We’re not being treated as if we belong, we’re not being embraced as if we are British."
She described the exchange as "grim" and like an "interrogation", adding "She was really persistent. She didn’t take Ngozi’s answers at face value."
Ms Fulani was at the palace for a meeting attended by the Queen Consort and other notable royals for an event speaking on violence against women.
It was held as part of the UN’s “16 days of activism against gender-based violence”, included around 300 guests - campaigners, politicians and celebrity ambassadors - to draw attention to the ongoing crisis.
The Palace said in a statement: "In this instance, unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made. 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.
"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."
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