Prince William says UK racism is ‘all too familiar’; The Queen meets with NSW Governor

Prince William has given a powerful speech about racism in the UK, as a beaming Queen met with NSW Governor Margaret Beazley at Windsor Castle.

Prince William said racism remains rife in the UK during a powerful speech, which also addressed the protests aimed at he and Kate Middleton when they toured the Caribbean early in the year.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge speaks during the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station. Picture: Getty Images

The Duke of Cambridge made the speech at the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument, which honours Caribbean immigrants who arrived in the UK aboard the ship Empire Windrush, following the Second World War.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, shakes hands with Britain's Housing and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove (L) next to Windrush passenger Alford Gardner (C) and Baroness Floella Benjamin (R) before the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument. Picture: AFP

Prince William said the racial prejudice black people faced when they arrived back in 1948 remained an “all too familiar experience”.

The Duke said long-term residents were “profoundly wronged” by the UK again in 2018, when threatened with deportation during what’s now known as the Windrush scandal.

“Only a matter of years ago, tens of thousands of that generation were profoundly wronged by the Windrush Scandal,” William said. “That rightly reverberates throughout the Caribbean community here in the UK. as well as many in the Caribbean nations.”

The National Windrush Monument was created by Jamaican artist Basil Watson (L). Picture: AFP.

William and Kate toured the Caribbean in March as a gesture of gratitude for the Commonwealth’s support of Queen Elizabeth II, but were forced to cancel a stop in Belize when protests broke out ahead of their arrival.

“Our trip was an opportunity to reflect, and we learnt so much. Not just about the different issues that matter most to the people of the region, but also how the past weighs heavily on the present,” William said.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument. Picture: AFP

“Sadly, that is also the case for members of the Windrush Generation who were victims of racism when they arrived here, and discrimination remains an all too familiar experience for Black men and women in Britain in 2022.”

Further protests were held in the Jamaican capital city of Kingtson when the royal couple arrived later that week. William and Kate also visiting the Bahamas, which along with Jamaica and Belize form part of the 54-nation British Commonwealth, of which Queen Elizabeth is head. Barbados, also part of the Caribbean, left the Commonwealth in late 2021, officially becoming a republic.

Prince William and Baroness Floella Benjamin at the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument. Picture: AFP.

In his speech, Prince William said as well as celebrating the diverse fabric of our families, our communities and our society as a whole, it is also important to acknowledge the ways in which the future the Windrush generation sought and deserved has yet to come to pass.

“Diversity is what makes us strong, and it is what reflects the modern, outward-looking values that are so important to our country.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton met with members of the association ELEVATE at Brixton House. Picture: AFP.

William and Kate also spent time with younger members of the British-Caribbean community, before visiting the Brixton House in South London to meet with children taking part in Elevate, an initiative to “connect young people with creativity.”

QUEEN MEETS WITH NSW GOVERNOR

The Queen has met with NSW Governor Margaret Beazley at Windsor Castle.

The 96-year-old monarch appeared in fine form as she enjoyed an audience with Governor Beazley at Windsor, the Queen’s main residence.

The Queen wore a yellow dress with a floral pattern along with a three-strand pearl necklace and matching earrings for the occasion.

The Queen was again pictured without a walking stick, which she has been using frequently since October due to ongoing “mobility issues”.

The Queen shakes hands with the Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley, during an audience at Windsor Castle. Picture: AFP

When she stepped out at a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Centenary of the Royal British Legion last year, the monarch had a walking stick for the first time in public since 2003, when she used a cane while she was recovering from a knee surgery.

She has even made a joke about her mobility problems in recent months, laughing during an in-person meeting: “Well, as you can see, I can’t move!”

The Queen looked in good form as she met with Margaret Beazley at Windsor Castle. Picture: AFP

The meeting marks the second day in a row that the Queen has held an audience at Windsor. On Tuesday, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby visited the monarch to present her with a special Canterbury Cross for her “unstinting” service to the Church of England for over 70 years and a citation for the Cross, which was presented as a framed piece of calligraphy.

Royal fans also noticed the Queen was sporting a new, shorter haircut, which was a hit.

“Like the new hair style, very chic,” one said.

Another added: “How cute does the Queen look here.”

The Queen used a walking stick during Trooping the Colour celebrations earlier this month. Picture: Getty Images

While a third said: “HMTQ is just fabulous. I would give anything to meet her if only for a moment.”

The Queen has kept a low profile since her Platinum Jubilee celebrations early this month.

Although she appeared at Trooping the Colour, the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee beacons and after the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, the monarch missed a number of events over the weekend.

The Queen was without her walking stick during a meeting with NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley. Picture: AFP

“She [the Queen] was fine, it was just very tiring yesterday,” Kate Middleton said following Trooping the Colour, according to PA, adding that the monarch “had had a lovely, lovely time.”

The Queen has reigned for an extraordinary 70 years. Picture: Getty Images

The Queen did not attend Royal Ascot last week, marking the first time in her 70-year reign that she has missed all of the annual horse racing event. However, she reportedly kept up wit the races by watching them on television.

Though their have been lingering concerns surrounding her health, royal sources say the Queen remains “very much in charge”.

“The sense I get from everyone I speak to is that the Queen remains totally in control of her faculties and of everything at the Palace,” royal biographer and historian Robert Lacey told People magazine.

“The problem is physical mobility — and that is not a constitutional or regency issue. She is in charge.”

On Tuesday, the royal family celebrated Prince William’s 40th birthday, with the future king set to have a joint party with his wife, Kate.

– with The Sun

Originally published as Prince William says UK racism is ‘all too familiar’; The Queen meets with NSW Governor