Racism in the Royal Family

[StoneofDestiny]

Susan Hussey has resigned. Philip was coming out with similar comments in public all his life, yet there was no move to get rid of him. AIBU to think this is more royal hypocrisy?

Racism and ageism in one story. Must be a slow news day.

I had to laugh at my own memory - am married to someone non-white - when we were camping in Wales. A fellow camper asked us where we were from and I said 'Surrey'. Then he asked again and I gave him the specific town. I remember he looked confused but he gave up and didn't pursue it. It was only afterwards that I realised he wanted to know what dh's heritage was! He just didn't have the language to say 'heritage' and probably didn't want to offend by asking outright why dh had darker skin than me!

I get asked this very same question every single week. I'm sick of it. I wear a nurses uniform, I have a very british name, a very british regional accent, I'm british I was born here. There is no reason for anybody to ask me this question, but they do and never accept my response. The follow up question is usually one of the following: where am I originally from or, when did you get here or when are you going home? It's all beginning to grate.

I'm glad this has been reported & discussed. I look forward to the day when nobody asks me this question in this manner ever again.

@NurseButtercup , I am so sorry you have to go through this and I'm sorry you are having to see some really unacceptable comments on this thread. We still have such a very long way to go in this country in tackling institutional racism.

yes, that was my thinking

she is not in the royal family
she is or was one of the queens lady in waiting.
in the household.

Correct, in the royal household and chosen by them as a fit and proper representative.

I wonder if Lady H assumed she was a foreign dignitary who had flown in for the event . She was wearing very traditional African clothes hence the where are you from conversation.

You don't think being told 'Hackney' might have made her realise her mistake?

The way people on here are bending over backwards to excuse racism is sickening.

@StoneofDestiny
chosen 60 years ago!
never mind, she has been shut up now!

Wow. She's not the only racist. If her excuse is being too old to know that judging people based on their clothes or skin colour is wrong, what's your excuse? I wear kaftans all the time, often wear sari, and have many comfortable salary kameez. I'm anglo- Irish. What the hell does what I wear or a hairstyle tell you? This woman was told several times that she was speaking to a British woman. How hard is that? B-R-I-T-I-S-H.

I wonder if Lady H assumed she was a foreign dignitary who had flown in for the event . She was wearing very traditional African clothes hence the where are you from conversation

nothing in the conversation suggested that at all.

The whole fucking charity she represents is based on heritage. Surely she must ask others about their heritage too?

It's based on tackling racism.

If anyone would like to donate to 'the whole fucking charity' to support the very good work they do, here's the link: www.sistahspace.org

futurehackney.com/ngozi

This is a woman whose identity is deeply enmeshed with her heritage. Just read her own words about her life, studies and experiences. It is central to her work now. The idea that she is so firmly British in her heritage and identity, that to suggest otherwise is wholly offensive is a massive reach. I suspect anyone who challenged her identity as African or Caribbean and said no you’re not, you’re British would be accused of offence in a different way.

@Snoozer11 tell me you’re a racist without telling me you’re a racist. The woman wasn’t wearing a costume. She wasn’t wearing a bugs bunny costume or anything even remotely similar. Christ, is ‘bugs bunny costume’ the new ‘I don’t care if you’re black, white or green with blue spots….’ Bullshit spouted by racists when they’re called out?

chosen 60 years ago!
never mind, she has been shut up now!

no - these 'ladies in waiting' have just undergone a reshuffle (laughingly called downsizing) to queens 'companions' and she was chosen again to represent them!

God the racists on MN never cease to amaze me...

Justifying the racism, attacking the victim - with a bit of snobbery thrown in for good measure ( "if she had any class..."). Oh and comparing traditional African dress to a Bugs Bunny costume FFS.

You no doubt have no idea what it's like to be told your whole life that you don't REALLY belong here, to constantly be treated like an outsider and foreigner - even when you dedicate your life to helping vulnerable women as this woman has done. It's not enough, you're still "othered" even if you reach the pinnacle of the Establishment.

If you don't know why that exchange was an embarrassment for the "Lady" for the RF and for the country then shame on you.

Ugh just get rid of the royal family already, it’s so weird.

and in the meantime please get rid of anyone even vaguely racist in that bloody awful institution!!! Our money on these idiots! It’s ageist to patronise this Hussey woman and think she shouldn’t have known better just because of her age…

Poor Sistah Space lady who attended, I know the charity but didn’t know of her. This should have been her time to shine and for the charity to become better known. It was a really important event on a very sensitive and vital topic, and the Hussey woman ruins it.

No , the way people on here confusing genuine logic with racism is sickening !

Or… it could be a someone’s way of saying that they DO think people of African heritage belong in the UK.
I should assume someone who dresses in an outfit that’s from a particular region would be wearing it because they're proud of their heritage.

can i ask a person who i think might be polish, or similar accent, where they are from? or is that racist?

What on earth was she doing amongst all that white privilege anyway?

If this quote is correct

Despite her saying she is British, the aide said: "I can see I am going to have a challenge getting you to say where you're from."

It changes the exchange considerably

news.sky.com/story/buckingham-palace-household-member-resigns-over-unacceptable-comments-made-at-queen-consorts-reception-12758643

Hussey may not be a royal but she was the late queen’s closest friend and she is William’s godmother. She is an insider. She represents them. She’s made a mistake that discredits The Crown and therefore it’s appropriate that she has gone.

If she truly thought that this woman was a foreign dignitary she’s guilty of being ill-prepared, which is a problem too. And whatever the woman’s role, she should have stopped questioning her when she got her answer about her provenance. And she should definitely not have touched her hair!

Hussey was asked to help Meghan assimilate into the RF when she became engaged to Harry. And people wonder why Meghan feels as she does…..

Only if you're the same colour it seems !

She was wearing an outfit that made her stand out, and people are responding as if she didn't stand out at all.

I'm saying if you wear something that makes you stand out, people will notice you!

The costume was a poor example but I was trying to point out how ridiculous posters sound with their faux naivety.

A kilt would be a better example. If everyone at a wedding is in smart trousers but one man is wearing a kilt, it's going to be a point of conversation.