British royal aide resigns over racist remarks

BBC News
Prince William’s godmother Lady Susan Hussey has resigned as a Royal aide after repeatedly asking a black British head of a charity where she was “really” from.

Lady Hussey, who was lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth, questioned Ngoza Fulani about her background at a charity event at Buckingham Palace. When the charity head explained she was British, Lady Hussey asked where her “people” were from and where she was “really” from. She has since apologized for the comments.

The Palace described the comments as “unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.

A spokesperson for Prince William said: “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 Hussey, who is 83, was a close confidante of the late Queen and accompanied her at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Huw Edwards presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Nicholas Witchell and Daniela Relph.