Royal diversity chief on cards amid Meghan’s racism charge

Following bombshell allegations by Harry and Meghan about racism in the royal family, plans are being made to modernise the monarchy.

While the proposals around diversity predate the interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their comments will be taken on board as part of the process, it is understood. Picture: AFP

The Queen considering appointing a diversity chief amid claims by the Duchess of Sussex of racism within the royal family.

The move is part of proposals to champion the rights of minorities. A Palace source said the move had the “full support” of the royal household.

Aides will undertake a “listen and learn” exercise over coming weeks that will involve speaking to businesses and people about how the monarchy can improve representation.

The source admitted that “more needs to be done” to address the issue, adding that the proposals would affect Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace.

The work to improve diversity, which will include the potential recruitment of a diversity chief, will cover ethnic minorities, the disabled, gay and trans communities and disability representation. While the proposals around diversity predate the interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their comments will be taken on board as part of the process, it is understood.

A royal source said: “This is an issue which has been taken very seriously across the royal households. We have the policies, the procedures and programmes in place but we haven’t seen the progress we would like and accept more needs to be done . . . we can always improve.

“Therefore we are not afraid to look at new ways of approaching it. The work to do this has been under way for some time now and comes with the full support of the family.”

Prince Harry and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during an interview with US television host Oprah Winfrey. Picture: AFP

On the potential appointment of a diversity chief the source added: “It is something that has to be considered but it is too early for any firm plans to be announced. We are listening and learning, to get this right.”

The development arose after the couple claimed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that a family member had raised concerns about how dark their son’s skin might be.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex reads to son Archie in this photograph taken in May last year. Picture: AFP

Winfrey responded: “Because they were concerned that if he were too brown, that that would be a problem? Are you saying that?”

Meghan replied: “I wasn’t able to follow up with why but if that’s the assumption you’re making, I think that feels like a pretty safe one.”

Buckingham Palace said that the issues raised, particularly that of race, were “concerning”. The Palace added, however, that “recollections may vary”, suggesting some of the allegations were disputed. Prince William said later: “We are very much not a racist family.”

The Mail on Sunday reported claims that the issue of racism continued to trouble the relationship between Harry, his father and his brother.

This was the reason that Gayle King, a US chat-show host and friend of the couple, described recent phone calls between them as “not productive”.

The newspaper said it understood that the Sussexes felt that while allegations of bullying made against Meghan were the subject of an independent review ordered by the Palace, the claims of racism were not under formal investigation.

King claimed last week that Meghan had “documents to back up everything”. She added: “All they wanted was for the royals to intervene and tell the press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant.”

Harry and Meghan’s wedding certificate was published last night (Sunday) showing that they wed at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. They had said in the interview that they had secretly got married three days earlier.

The Times