One of the members of the British Royal household has resigned for making “unacceptable and regrettable comments” during a reception hosted by King Charles III’s wife Queen Consort Camilla, said Buckingham Palace.
Queen Consort Camilla hosted the reception to emphasize the reason behind domestic abuse and violence against women. The event was attended by 300 guests.
Ngozi Fulani, the founder of the domestic abuse charity Sistah Space which is based in London, was asked about where she belonged in Africa during the event. Her organization provides assistance to British women of African and Caribbean descent who have suffered domestic and sexual abuse.
Fulani recounted the trauma, on Twitter, she experienced when she was asked this question by a royal aide at Buckingham Palace. While recounting the incident she said, “We are based in Hackney,” and the aide replied: “No, what part of Africa are you from?”
“I don’t know, they didn’t leave any records”, to which the royal aide asked further,”Well you must know where you’re from, I spent time in France. Where are you from?”, She continued.
“Here, UK,” Ngozi Faluni said. “No, but what nationality are you?” the royal aide again asked. “I am born here and am British,” Ngozi Faluni replied.
The royal aide kept persisting on her question, further asking, “No, but where do you really come from, where do your people come from?,” the question really shocked Ngozi Faluni.
Ngozi Faluni told her reaction, “It was such a shock to me and the other two women that we were stunned (into a) temporary silence.”
Buckingham Palace released a statement on the matter and 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.”
Meghan Markle, the wife of Prince Harry, claimed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year that a senior royal family member expressed reservations about the likely skin tone of her and Prince Harry’s first child. Prince William subsequently refuted the assertion.
