Lawyer Nazir Afzal claims Lady Susan Hussey also quizzed him about ethnicity
The racism scandal engulfing Buckingham Palace has taken a turn after a top lawyer came forward with new claims.
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One of the UK’s top lawyers has claimed Lady Susan Hussey also quizzed him about his ethnicity at the same Buckingham Palace event she asked Ngozi Fulani racist questions.
Lady Hussey, who was one of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s most trusted confidantes and is godmother to Prince William, is said to have repeatedly quizzed Ms Fulani about her nationality at a palace reception on Tuesday.
The following day, the palace confirmed that Lady Hussey, 83, had “stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect” over “unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments”.
Now former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, Nazir Afzal, claims he was also questioned about his heritage at the event.
“I was at the Buckingham Palace reception at which Lady Hussey questioned the heritage of a brilliant DV expert Ngozi Fulani,” the lawyer tweeted.
“She only asked me my heritage once & seemed to accept my answer – Manchester currently! Racism is never far away tho.”
I was at the Buckingham Palace reception at which Lady Hussey questioned the heritage of a brilliant DV expert Ngozi Fulani
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) November 30, 2022
She only asked me my heritage once & seemed to accept my answer - Manchester currently!
Racism is never far away tho
Ms Fulani, a British activist and chief executive of domestic abuse charity Sistah Space, was one of about 300 people invited to the event to raise awareness about violence against women and girls.
Soon after, Ms Fulani claimed on social media that she had been approached at the function by Lady Susan who moved her hair to see her name badge and asked: “Where do your people come from?”
Ms Fulani said she responded by telling the royal aide that her charity was based in Hackney, an area in East London, but was then allegedly asked: “No, what part of Africa are YOU from?”
She said she told Lady Susan multiple times that she was British but that the aide continued to challenge her on the matter, allegedly then saying: “when did you first come here”.
“Lady! I am a British national,” Ms Fulani said she responded.
“My parents came here in the 50s.”
According to Ms Fulani, Lady Susan then commented: “Oh, I knew we’d get there in the end. You’re Caribbean.”
Ms Fulani said she again clarified: “No, lady, I am of African heritage, Caribbean descent and British nationality.”
The employee continued to question which part of Africa she was from and when she first came to the UK, Ms Fulani said in a social media post.
She said the experience, just 10 minutes after arriving, left her “insulted” with “mixed feelings” about the royal visit.
Mixed feelings about yesterday's visit to Buckingham Palace. 10 mins after arriving, a member of staff, Lady SH, approached me, moved my hair to see my name badge. The conversation below took place. The rest of the event is a blur.
— Sistah Space (@Sistah_Space) November 30, 2022
Thanks @ManduReid & @SuzanneEJacob for supportðŸ™ðŸ¾ pic.twitter.com/OUbQKlabyq
BUCKINGHAM PALACE RESPONDS
A spokesperson said Buckingham Palace “investigated immediately” and that “unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments” had been made.
They added that the palace had reached out to Ms Fulani and were “inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes.”
The spokesperson said that the member of the royal household who had the conversation “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.”
Camilla, Queen Consort, was also in attendance along with Olena Zelenska, the wife of the Ukrainian president, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Rania of Jordan and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
PRINCE WILLIAM, MEGHAN MARKLE’S FRIEND REACT
The Prince of Wales issued a statement about his godmother’s alleged remarks just hours before he arrived in the US on Wednesday.
“I was really disappointed to hear about the guest’s experience,” it read.
“Racism has no place in our society. Those comments were unacceptable and it’s right the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect”.
However Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie – a close friend of Meghan Markle – took a swipe at the royal residence.
He tweeted: “A speedy response from the Palace, who have a history of silence or denial for incidents regarding race. Lessons finally learned?
“Or is this just not wanting anything to overshadow the Wales’ Boston visit.
“Arriving in the US amidst another race scandal wouldn’t be the best start.”
Lady Susan’s alleged comments were condemned widely on Twitter.
Replying to messages of support, Ms Fulani tweeted: “I think it is essential to acknowledge that trauma has occurred and being invited and then insulted has caused much damage.
“Yesterday made me realise an ugly truth which I am still trying to process.
“There was nobody to report it to. I couldn’t report it to the Queen Consort, plus it was such a shock to me and the 2 other women we were stunned into temporary silence. I just stood at the edge of the room, smiled & engaged briefly, with those who spoke to me until I could leave.”
She added: “It was such a struggle to stay in a space you were violated in.”
‘IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE’
Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, who was also there at the time said that Lady Susan’s questions had made her and Ngozi feel like “trespassers” rather than guests.
The politician, the first person of colour to lead a UK political party, said she didn’t feel welcome after the encounter despite being invited.
“It was very uncomfortable,” she told the Sun.
“This reception was there to celebrate people who had been working to end violence against women and girls and yet we were on the receiving end of an interrogation about what our heritage was.
I was right there. I witnessed this firsthand.
— Mandu Reid (@ManduReid) November 30, 2022
We were at an event that was supposed to celebrate our work.
For people like Lady SH, people like us will never really belong here.
Infinite solidarity @Sistah_Space.
✊🾠https://t.co/2MswD8AFM8
“At an event like that to be on the receiving end of such offensive, racist, unwelcoming treatment really paints a bad picture.
“It was meant to be an opportunity to celebrate and honour people who had been working on this really important subject and elevate the importance of the subject.
“The encounter we had undermined that.”
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