A member of the royal staff has offered “deep regrets for the hurt caused” and has “immediately resigned from her honorary position,” according to a spokeswoman.
A member of the Buckingham Palace household has quit after making “unacceptable” remarks at the Queen Consort’s reception.
Tuesday at the violence against women and girls reception at the palace, Ngozi Fulani, chief executive officer of Sistah Space, was asked by a member of the household where she “truly came from.” Other attendees were the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and the queen of Jordan, Rania.
Ms. Fulani, who is black and a domestic violence survivor advocate, called the interaction a “violation.”
She claimed on Twitter that the woman “approached me, moved my hair to show my name badge, and persisted on asking where she was from in Africa.”
Despite her assertion that she is British, the staff member stated, “I realize I will have a difficult time convincing you to identify your country of origin.”
It follows Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s assertion from last year that a member of the royal household expressed concern over the complexion of her unborn son Archie.
The palace stated that the “problems expressed, especially that of race,” were “concerning” and will be addressed confidentially.
Buckingham Palace stated on Tuesday’s events, “We take this matter extremely seriously and have launched a swift investigation to determine all the facts.
“Unacceptable and profoundly unfortunate remarks have been uttered in this circumstance. We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani regarding this situation and, if she so chooses, invite her to discuss all aspects of her experience in person.
In the meanwhile, the affected individual would want to express her deepest regrets for the harm caused and has resigned from her honorary position with immediate effect.
All members of the household are reminded that they are obligated to uphold diversity and inclusion rules at all times.
‘Treated almost like trespassers’
Ms. Fulani stated that the incident left her with “mixed feelings” about visiting the palace and that she will “never forget” the experience.
In response to letters of support, she stated that her sorrow was heightened by her inability to report the incident or inform the Queen Consort.
“There was no one to whom to report it. I was unable to tell the Queen Consort since it was such a shock to me and the other two women that we were temporarily speechless,” she stated.
I simply stood at the perimeter of the room, smiled, and engaged briefly with those who addressed me until it was time to depart.
The leader of the Women’s Equality Party, Mandu Reid, who was standing next to Ms. Fulani and witnessed the exchange, claimed that they were practically treated as “trespassers.”
She stated, “We truly felt as though we were being treated as trespassers in this location. We are not regarded as if we belong, and we are not welcomed as if we are British.”
Ms. Reid described the interaction as “stern” and similar to an “interrogation,” adding, “She was quite insistent. She did not accept Ngozi’s responses at face value.”
Ms. Fulani’s organization, Sistah Space, is a support group for abused women of African and Caribbean descent based in Hackney, east London.
“We at Sistah Space would rather raise awareness about this issue than shame another individual,” the statement read.
Domestic violence has been one of the primary causes championed by the Queen Consort since joining the Royal Family.
