Prince William and Kate Middleton Release a Statement Following Incident at Buckingham Palace

Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly support his godmother Lady Susan Hussey’s decision to remove herself from her honorary position at Buckingham Palace after she made racist remarks to Ngozi Fulani, founder and chief executive of London-based domestic abuse charity Sistah Space.

“I was really disappointed to hear about the guest’s experience. Racism has no place in our society. These comments were unacceptable and it’s right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect,” a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales said on Wednesday, November 30, per People, adding that William, currently headed to Boston, is aware of the situation and supports the consequence.

The day before, on Tuesday, November 29, Buckingham Palace hosted an event led by Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles on the issue of violence against women, and Ms. Fulani attended along with high-profile figures including Countess of Wessex, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Rania of Jordan, Danish Crown Princess Mary, Sierra Leone’s first lady Fatima Maada Bio, and Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska. While there, Fulani later alleged, Lady Susan Hussey interrogated her about her ethnic background and where she was “really” from, despite Fulani’s explanation that she was born in the UK and her nationality was British.

After the conversation came to light, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, “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.”

Lady Hussey had been a lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II and was made Prince William’s godmother in 1982. After the monarch’s death, King Charles III kept her on as a “lady of the household.” According to Newsweek, she was one of the palace aides put in charge of helping Meghan Markle prepare for royal life, and there are unconfirmed reports that she was against Markle’s marriage to Prince Harry. Hmm!