Buckingham Palace staff member resigns

A member of Buckingham Palace staff has resigned and apologised over a comment made to a black guest at a reception.

Ngozi Fulani - who's a leading advocate for domestic abuse survivors - was asked where she 'really came from'.

Buckingham Palace says it took the incident 'extremely seriously'.

It happened at an event held by the Queen Consort yesterday.

William is understood to agree it was right for Lady Susan to resign, with a Kensington Palace spokesman telling reporters in the US ahead of the Waleses' trip to Boston: "Racism has no place in our society.

"The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect."

Lady Susan Hussey, 83, who was invited to and on duty at the reception, was Queen Elizabeth II's lady in waiting for more than 60 years and is a godmother to the Prince of Wales.

She has now stepped down from her honorary role as one of three Ladies of the Household, to which she was newly appointed to help the King at formal occasions.

Charles, who acceded to the throne less than three months ago, and Camilla have been made aware of the situation, the Palace said.

Ms Fulani said she was challenged when she said her charity was based in Hackney, with "Lady SH" saying: "No, what part of Africa are YOU from?"

The Palace said in a statement: "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 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."

Mandu Reid, leader of the Women's Equality Party, who was next to Ms Fulani and witnessed the exchange, told the PA news agency they were treated like "trespassers".

Ms Reid said: "We really felt 'oh, OK, we're being treated almost like trespassers in this place.

"'We're not being treated as if we belong, we're not being embraced as if we are British.'"

She described the conversation as "grim" and like an "interrogation", adding: "She was really persistent. She didn't take Ngozi's answers at face value."

She thanked Ms Reid, the first person of colour to lead a national political party in British history, and Safe Lives chief executive Suzanne Jacob for their support on the day.

Responding to messages of support, Ms Fulani wrote: "Standing there in a room packed with people while this violation was taking place was so strange, especially as the event was about violence against women.

"That feeling of not knowing what to do, will NEVER leave me. Almost alone in a room full of advocates."

She said it was a "struggle to stay in a space where you were violated".

Ms Fulani outlined her distress at not being able to report the incident, saying she felt she could not tell Camilla.

"There was nobody to report it to. I could'nt (sic) report it to the Queen Consort, plus it was such a shock to me and the other 2 women, that we were stunned to temporary silence," she wrote.

"I just stood at the edge of the room, smiled & engaged briefly with who spoke to me until I could leave."

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