The Buckingham Palace event is under renewed scrutiny as allegations of racism resurface. Queen Camilla hosted a reception aimed at highlighting efforts to combat gender-based violence, but remarks from a guest sparked controversy. Susan Hussey, 83, long a trusted aide to Queen Elizabeth II, remained active in honorary roles after the late monarch’s passing. The guest list for the Tuesday afternoon gathering included several prominent figures: Matilde, Queen of Belgium; Queen Rania of Jordan; Princess Mary of Denmark; and Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska. Also in attendance was Ngozi Fulani, 61, a Black British activist and founder of Sistah Space, an organization in London’s Hackney borough supporting Black and Caribbean women affected by gender-based violence.
Fulani described an interaction during the reception in which Hussey approached him, adjusted his clothing to cover his name badge, and inquired about his background. Fulani shared a detailed Twitter thread describing the exchange as a thinly veiled display of racism beneath a courteous veneer. He quoted Hussey’s questions point by point, illustrating how a line of casual curiosity can shift into a probing encounter about identity.
— Susan Hussey: Where are you from? — Ngozi Fulani: Sistah Space. — No, where are you from? — We are in Hackney. — No, where in Africa do you come from? — I do not know, they did not leave registration documents. — But you’ll know where it came from. For example, I lived in France for a while. Where are you from? — From here in the UK. — But what is your nationality? — I was born here and I’m English. — I mean, where do you really come from, where do your people come from? — “My people,” madam? What does that mean? — It’s going to be pretty hard for me to get you to tell me where you’re from. When did you first come here? — Woman, I’m a British citizen; my parents came here in the 1950s, then… — I knew I’d finally find it. You are the Caribbean! — No, ma’am. I have African heritage, Caribbean descent, and British citizenship. — Yeah, but then you… If you invite someone to an anti-domestic abuse event and there are people from different demographics, I don’t see anything about whether I’m British or not. You’re making me feel unwelcome in my field. Even if there is no physical violence, it is harassment.
“This is harassment”
In the aftermath of the widely circulated moments, Buckingham Palace demanded an apology and Hussey resigned from Camilla’s side. The palace described the remarks as unacceptable and deeply regrettable. In an interview with the BBC, Fulani called the incident abusive and stressed that age should not excuse disrespect. She stated that inviting someone to an event addressing abuse yet targeting people from different backgrounds fails to create a welcoming space, emphasizing that harassment can occur even without physical violence.
Buckingham Palace later indicated that it had offered Fulani an opportunity to discuss all aspects of his experience personally, should he wish to do so. The host organization involved disputed that representation, underscoring tensions around what constitutes a constructive response in such cases.
The reception coincided with, and in some ways overshadowed, Prince William and Catherine’s three-day tour of the United States, drawing attention from an American media landscape eager to follow royal developments. The episode invoked memories of earlier accusations of institutional racism that emerged in March 2021 surrounding Meghan Markle and other members of the royal family, an issue that Prince William once addressed before authorities announced an internal review that has not progressed publicly. Officials have pledged to examine the circumstances surrounding Camilla’s arrival and the broader implications for the royal household.