Ngozi Fulani receives personal apology for racist incident at Buckingham Palace | the monarchy

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A former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen who resigned from the royal household after repeatedly asking black charity founder Ngozi Fulani where she was from during a reception at the charity palace has apologized to her in person, Buckingham Palace said.

Susan Hussey, godmother to the Prince of Wales, met Fulani, the founder of Sistah Space, at the palace in a meeting described as warm and understanding, during which she apologized for comments, including for asking d where she was really coming from despite Fulani saying so. she was British.

Buckingham Palace had slammed the remarks as unacceptable and deeply regrettable and Lady Hussey, who had recently been appointed housekeeper after Queens’ death, resigned immediately.

A joint statement on behalf of Buckingham Palace and Fulani said the meeting to deal with the incident took place on Friday morning.

The statement read: At this meeting, filled with warmth and understanding, Lady Susan offered her sincere apologies for the comments that were made and the distress they caused Ms Fulani. Lady Susan is committed to deepening her awareness of the sensitivities involved and is grateful to have the opportunity to learn more about the issues in this area.

Ms Fulani, who has unfairly received the most appalling torrent of abuse on social media and elsewhere, has accepted this apology and appreciates that no malice was intentional.

The Royal Families will continue to focus on inclusion and diversity, with an enhanced work program that will expand knowledge and training programs, looking at what can be learned from Sistah Space and ensuring they achieve all members of their communities.

Mrs Fulani and Lady Susan are now asking that they be left alone to rebuild their lives following an extremely difficult time for both of them. They hope their example shows that a path to resolution can be found with kindness, cooperation and condemnation of discrimination wherever it takes root.

It is the wish of both parties that at the end of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, attention can now return to Sistah Space’s important work in supporting women experiencing domestic violence.

Their Majesties the King and Queen Consort and other members of the Royal Family have been kept fully informed and are delighted that both parties have reached this welcome outcome.

Fulani claimed that during the reception, Hussey moved her hair to reveal her name badge and constantly questioned her about the origin of her people, despite being told she was of British nationality.

She said she felt traumatized by the incident, which she described as an example of institutional racism.

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After the incident made headlines, Fulani said she was horribly abused. In a statement at the time, she said: My team, my family and I have been under immense pressure and horrific abuse via social media. Yet throughout this time I have been heartened by the tremendous support we have received.

Hussey, the widow of former BBC chairman Sir Marmaduke Hussey, is a close friend of the king. Her daughter, Katherine Brooke, has just been named one of Camilla’s new queen companions.

Speaking to the Guardian after the incident, she said the first no no was that Hussey was moving her hair. Here I am in this place as part of the 16 days of activism, experiencing non-physical violence, you feel you have the right to approach me, put your hand in my hair and insist that I don’t am not entitled to British nationality. In a space like this, what do you do? She said she had never felt so unwelcome or so uncomfortable.

But she hadn’t wanted Hussey’s resignation, she said at the time. I would have preferred that we talk to her or that we rehabilitate her.

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