Lady Susan Hussey meets black charity boss Ngozi Fulani to apologise to her
The King and Queen Consort today said they were ‘pleased’ for the ‘welcome outcome’ after Lady Susan Hussey apologized in person to black British charity boss Ngozi Fulani – after repeatedly asking her ‘what part of Africa are you from?’ at a royal reception last month.
The 83-year-old, who served the late Queen for six decades, stepped down from her honorary role ‘with immediate effect’ amid a furious outcry after Miss Fulani tweeted about her experience at the event.
The scandal prompted an intervention from Prince William, with the heir to the throne criticising his godmother’s ‘unacceptable comments’ and saying ‘racism has no place in our society’.
Today, Buckingham Palace revealed the former aide had now met the activist, who founded the charity Sistah Space, to express her ‘sincere apologies’ – which they said Miss Fulani accepted.
The pair now want to ‘rebuild their lives in peace’ following the ‘distressing’ past few weeks, the Palace said in a statement.
It added that the King and Queen Consort were ‘pleased that both parties have reached this welcome outcome’, and criticised the ‘torrent of abuse’ Miss Fulani has since received on social media.
The Palace said today: ‘At this meeting, filled with warmth and understanding, Lady Susan offered her sincere apologies for the comments that were made and the distress they caused to Ms Fulani.
‘Lady Susan has pledged to deepen her awareness of the sensitivities involved and is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the issues in this area.
‘Ms Fulani, who has unfairly received the most appalling torrent of abuse on social media and elsewhere, has accepted this apology and appreciates that no malice was intended.
‘Both Ms Fulani and Lady Susan ask now that they be left in peace to rebuild their lives in the wake of an immensely distressing period for them both.
‘They hope that their example shows a path to resolution can be found with kindness, co-operation and the condemnation of discrimination wherever it takes root.
‘It is the wish of both parties that, at the end of the UN’s 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, attention can now return to the important work of Sistah Space in supporting women affected by domestic abuse.
‘Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort and other members of the Royal Family have been kept fully informed and are pleased that both parties have reached this welcome outcome.’
Miss Fulani says she was left feeling ‘violated’ after Prince William’s godmother, who served as the late Queen’s right-hand woman for 62 years, ‘interrogated’ her about where she was from at a Palace reception, despite her making clear she was British.
She also accused Lady Susan of moving her hair in order to look at her name badge and asked her: ‘What part of Africa are you from?’ when she replied that she came from Hackney.
Only when the domestic violence campaigner said she was of Caribbean descent and African origin did Lady Hussey stop, saying: ‘I knew we’d get there in the end.’
Ms Fulani, 57, later posted a transcript of the exchange on social media, which led to a furious outcry, leading Lady Susan to quit her post.
Sources have previously told the Mail that while there was no doubt that the comments were made, ‘absolutely no malice was intended’.