King Charles Aide's 'Unacceptable' Remark Suggests 'Institutional Racism'

Queen Elizabeth II's former lady-in-waiting has quit over comments that suggest "institutionally racist dynamics [are] baked into the fabric of the institution," a politician who witnessed the incident told Newsweek.

Lady Susan Hussey stepped down from her honorary role after asking Black charity boss Ngozi Fulani where she was "really from," seemingly unsatisfied by the answer that she was British.

Hussey was among Elizabeth's closest courtiers, as well as being Prince William's godmother, and had been asked by Charles to take on a new role as a "Lady of the Household." Buckingham Palace officials in London said in a statement "that unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made."

Fulani, chief executive of domestic-violence support charity Sistah Space, posted a detailed account of the exchange on both Instagram and Twitter, describing the remarks as "insulting."

It was witnessed by two other women, including Mandu Reid, leader of the British Women's Equality Party, who went public with her own account to support Fulani.

Reid told Newsweek: "The three of us really did feel in that moment like we were somehow intruders. We were guests. We were not gatecrashing the event. We didn't feel welcome in that moment, and it was an event that was supposed to celebrate us, and elevate the importance of this issue.

"I've never visited Buckingham Palace before. It's really big and really grand, and I did have this sense of arriving at what was the Empire. I had a strange feeling, I'm not familiar with these kind of environments. But then the encounter we had brought all that home."

Fulani and Reid were among guests invited to the palace on Tuesday, November 29 by Camilla, the Queen Consort, to mark the U.N. 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Reid said: "Me and Ngozi know each other pretty well. We're pretty strident people, but in the aftermath of that encounter, we were stunned to silence almost.

"We were kind of incredulous that we had had that kind of experience. It was very natural and casual. It wasn't furtive in any way. That always is a sign that something is baked in.

"It's part of the norms of a place, when it's so casually served up in that way," Reid added. "I did feel in that moment that, OK, maybe as far as some of the key people are concerned, we don't really belong.

"It validated what I have heard about the institutional culture. It was a piece of first-hand evidence that I now have to speak to the fact of there being an institutional problem. It, for me, was a signal of institutional racism. Institutionally racist dynamics baked into the fabric of the institution."

Fulani described the incident as a "violation" and wrote on Instagram: "I was standing with two women, including @mandureid from the @wep_uk when an elder women (SH) approached us. She put her hand in my hair to move my locs so that she could see my name badge."

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full details. 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 wishes to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect," the spokesperson added.

"All members of the household are being reminded of the strict diversity and inclusivity policies, which they are required to uphold at all times."

The incident came as Prince William and Kate Middleton were on the cusp of beginning a visit to America to promote the Earthshot Prize climate-change awards on December 2.

The couple were due to touch down in Boston for the three-day tour on Wednesday, November 30, when the news broke.

Hussey's comments are particularly awkward for the palace as she was so close to the queen that she was sometimes described as her "Number One Head Girl."

However, they may create a tricky situation for William as she was also his godmother. Charles had only just passed up an opportunity to seamlessly terminate the relationship with Hussey because Camilla decided not to have any ladies-in-waiting (female personal assistants at a court, attending on a royal woman).

Hussey had been at the center of a controversy over summer 2022 when the biography Revenge, by Tom Bower, suggested she had suggested Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's marriage would "end in tears" in 2017, before their wedding.

Bower wrote: "In London, Lady Susan Hussey had shortly before [New Year] enjoyed lunch with a group of theatre executives and directors.

"While discussing the possibility that Meghan might become associated with the National Theatre after the wedding, Hussey became unexpectedly serious about the couple's future. 'That will all end in tears,' warned Hussey. 'Mark my words.'"