It has now been three years since a Buckingham Palace reception descended into a damaging race controversy, leading to the dramatic resignation of the late Queen Elizabeth II's most trusted confidante, Lady Susan Hussey.
The Fateful Exchange at the Palace
In late November 2022, a reception at Buckingham Palace, intended to highlight the vital issue of violence against women, became the epicentre of a major royal scandal. The event was attended by Ngozi Fulani, the founder of the domestic abuse charity Sistah Space. According to Ms Fulani's detailed account on social media, she was approached by Lady Hussey, then an 84-year-old senior advisor to Queen Camilla and Prince William's godmother.
Lady Hussey allegedly interrogated Ms Fulani about her origins, repeatedly asking where she was 'really from' after Ms Fulani stated she was from Hackney. The exchange, which Ms Fulani said occurred seven times, included questions like: 'No, but where do you really come from? Where do your people come from? When did you first come here?' Ms Fulani, a British national of African heritage, described feeling 'violated' and 'insulted', stating the incident left her and others 'stunned to temporary silence'.
Swift Fallout and Royal Reckoning
The public allegations triggered an immediate crisis for the Royal Family, coming just months after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's accusations of racism and shortly after the late Queen's death. Within 24 hours, Lady Hussey, after more than 60 years of devoted service, resigned from her royal household position with 'immediate effect'.
The Palace moved quickly to control the damage. Buckingham Palace issued a statement condemning the 'unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments' and pledged to take the matter 'extremely seriously'. Perhaps more significantly, Prince William, then on the eve of a crucial three-day visit to the United States, personally distanced himself. A spokesman for the Prince of Wales called the remarks 'unacceptable', and William stated it was 'really disappointing' and that 'racism has no part in our society'.
Royal biographer Omid Scobie later claimed in his book Endgame that William was furious, demanding to know 'Why was she there in the first place?' and that his decision to issue a separate statement caused friction with his father, King Charles III, who felt it was not a 'team' decision.
Reconciliation and a Cautious Return
In the wake of the public backlash, a reconciliation was arranged. Just two weeks after the incident, on 16 December 2022, Lady Hussey and Ngozi Fulani met privately. A joint statement released by Buckingham Palace and Ms Fulani described a meeting 'filled with warmth and understanding'. Lady Hussey offered her 'sincere apologies' and pledged 'to deepen her awareness of the sensitivities involved'.
This paved the way for Lady Hussey's gradual, low-key return to royal circles. By February 2023, she had received a public show of support from Princess Anne, who asked her to represent her at a memorial service. However, the episode had lasting effects. In March 2023, Ms Fulani announced she was temporarily stepping down from her charity role, citing the intense backlash she had received and claiming a lack of ongoing support from the Palace.
The incident also drew commentary from across the spectrum. Some friends suggested Lady Hussey's hearing may have played a part, while biographer William Shawcross called her a victim of a 'remorseless, cruel, blame culture'. Notably, Prince Harry later defended her in a January 2024 interview, stating, 'Meghan and I love Susan Hussey... I also know that what she meant, she never meant any harm at all.'
The controversy marked an ignominious end to a storied six-decade royal career for the woman once known as the Queen's 'Number One Head Girl', underscoring the intense scrutiny and challenges facing the modern monarchy in matters of race and perception.
