Race row is an ‘absolute disaster’ for Prince William, says royal expert

The Buckingham Palace race row has been a “disaster” forPrince William and theRoyal Family, commentator Jennie Bond has said.

Senior courtierLady Susan Hussey, William’s godmother, wasforced to resign after campaigner Ngozi Fulani said she had been racially insulted by the royal aide at a reception this week.

Ngozi, who runs a black women's domestic abuse charity in London, posted on Twitter how the lateQueen's friend touched her hair and asked her where "in Africa she comes from".

The row has threatened toovershadow the Prince and Princess of Wales’ trip to Boston in the USA to attend the Earthshot Prize ceremony – their global environmental initiative.

Ms Bond told GB News she had come across Lady Hussey at “many royal events” over the years.

She added: “She was a very, very senior member of the Queen's entourage. She was her confidant in many ways.

“I've always found her to be courteous and to be kind. But clearly this is a disaster. This was a showcase event at Buckingham Palace about violence against women, and a woman who was invited to be there to celebrate the work that she has done has been made to feel violated.”

A palace spokesman said in a statement that they had reached out to Ngozi to invite her to discuss what happened in person.

However, speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Ngozi denied the Palace had reached out to her.

She also told hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway that what she experienced “was a form of abuse”.

Ms Bond told GB News: “It is an absolute disaster and inexcusable as the palace has made clear.

"I see that Miss Fulani this morning is suggesting that it's a form of abuse. I wonder if that's a little bit strong.

“I mean, it's definitely tactless, stupid, ignorant and offensive, but whether it was intended to be that I rather doubt.”

In an interview with Mark Longhurst, Ms Bond added: “I don't want to make any excuses for Lady Hussey here, but I have seen this morning that the Chancellor of Manchester University says that he was at the reception and he was also asked what his heritage was by Lady Hussey and explained where he came from and she left it at that.

“So it does seem to be perhaps a question she was asking. But we're entering this whole realm of what are we correctly allowed to say about our basic human curiosity about someone's background and where they come from?

“I think there is a learning curve for all of us, people of a particular age, and you know, I'm quite old as well. Everyone has to learn a new language and I don't think Lady Susan has got there yet.”

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