A black British charity leader said she felt she had been forced to denounce her citizenship when she was “questioned” by the late Queen’s lady-in-waiting about where she “really came from”.
Ngozi Fulani, who founded the anti-domestic abuse charity Sistah Space, was repeatedly questioned about her background by royal aide Susan Hussey at a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Comparing the incident to the Windrush scandal, Fulani told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the encounter felt “like an interrogation” and “abuse”.
Lady Hussey, 83, apologized and resigned from her honorary role as lady of the royal household following the incident on Tuesday at a violence against women and girls reception hosted by Camilla, the Queen consort.
When asked to describe the conversation, Fulani said, “Like an interrogation. I guess the only way I can explain it is that she’s determined, ‘Where are you from? Where are your people from?’”
Fulani said he initially wondered if Hussey had failed to hear his answer when he continued to ask the same question. “But I soon realized very quickly that this had nothing to do with her ability to understand, but this is her trying to get me to actually denounce my British citizenship.”
He added: “This is like a Windrush thing for me. You can’t make me feel uncomfortable in my own space.”
Fulani said it was old to suggest the comments could be attributed to Hussey’s age. “I’ve heard so many suggestions about his age and things like that and I think it’s kind of disrespectful to the age,” he said.
“Are we saying that because of your age you can’t be racist or you can’t be inappropriate?”
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He added: “If you invite people to an event, as I said, against domestic abuse, and there are people from different demographics, I don’t see the relevance of whether I’m British or not British. You’re trying to make it unwelcome in my own space.”
Fulani described Hussey’s questions as abuse. “I have to really wonder how this can happen in a space that is supposed to protect women against all kinds of violence,” she said. “And even if it’s not physical violence, it’s abuse.”
A spokesman for the Prince of Wales, who is Lady Hussey’s godson, said the comments were unacceptable and that “racism has no place in our society”. Buckingham Palace also called the comments “unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.
Asked how he felt about Hussey’s resignation, Fulani said: “I want the focus to stay where it should be, which is on women and girls who are affected by domestic abuse.
“That said, it is influenced by Buckingham Palace, and it is their decision and their decision, a decision I had no part in.”
Asked if he would have preferred to accept Hussey’s apology rather than see her resign, Fulani said: “I would have preferred it not to happen.
“I would have preferred to go to a space where I was invited and treated like all the other guests. I would prefer that we keep the focus on abuse against women and girls.”