Harry shares delight in Lady Susan Hussey and Ngozi Fulani reconciling
Harry tells of his delight of Lady Susan Hussey and Ngozi Fulani reconciling over their racism row – as he uses his TV interview to say HE wants accountability from his relatives
- Lady Susan Hussey, 83, asked Ms Fulani where she came from at a palace event
- The royal aide met with the Sistah Space founder to apologise in December
- Harry made the comments in his 90-minute ITV interview with Tom Bradby
Harry expressed delight at the reconciliation of Lady Susan Hussey and Ngozi Fulani over their racism row – as he used his TV interview to say he wants accountability from his relatives.
The Duke of Sussex made the comments in his 90-minute discussion with ITV presenter and old friend Tom Bradby, ahead of the publication of his memoir ‘Spare’ on Tuesday.
The Duke of Sussex said the reaction to the incident between Lady Susan Hussey and Ngozi Fulani in November was ‘horrendous’.
Lady Susan Hussey, 83, Prince William’s godmother and one of Queen Consort Camilla’s closest aides, resigned from her honorary role at Buckingham Palace after asking Ms Fulani where she came from.
The Duke of Sussex made the comments in his 90-minute discussion with ITV presenter and old friend Tom Bradby
Prince Harry expressed delight at the reconciliation of Lady Susan Hussey and Ngozi Fulani over their racism row. Pictured together on December 16
However, she met with Ms Fulani in December to apologise.
The Duke told Tom Bradby: ‘All we’ve ever asked for in the last – certainly the last few years – is some accountability.
‘And I’m very happy for Ngozi Fulani to be invited into the palace to sit down with Lady Susan Hussey and to reconcile, because Meghan and I love Susan Hussey. (Meghan) thinks she’s great.
‘And I also know that what she meant – she never meant any harm at all.
‘But the response from the British press, and from people online because of the stories that they wrote was horrendous.’
His backing comes in contrast to his brother, Prince William, whose spokesman condemned as ‘unacceptable’ the comments made by Lady Susan in the wake of the furore.
The Duke also stated his belief that the Royal Family have also avoided accountability ‘on a lot of things’.
Speaking about what he wants from his family and book, Harry told Bradby: ‘I want reconciliation, but first there needs to be some accountability. You can’t just continue to say to me that I’m delusional and paranoid when all the evidence is stacked up, because I was genuinely terrified about what’s gonna happen to me.’
Ms Fulani shared this transcript of the alleged incident but said the rest of the event was a ‘blur’
Lady Hussey, the Queen’s former lady-in-waiting, reportedly asked Sistah Space founder Ngozi Fulani: ‘What part of Africa are you from?’ at an event at the palace on November 29.
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.
Miss Fulani said 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.
In December Lady Susan met with the activist to express her ‘sincere apologies’, which Ms Fulani accepted.
Camilla, the Queen Consort, centre, attended the reception to raise awareness of violence against women and girls where the comments to Ngozi Fulani (circled in red) were made
Lady Susan Hussey (right), 83, Prince William’s godmother and one of Queen Consort Camilla’s closest aides, resigned from her honorary role at Buckingham Palace after asking Ms Fulani (centre, left image) where she came from
The Palace said shortly after the meeting: ‘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 previously described her Buckingham Palace ordeal as a ‘form of abuse’.
She also said Lady Susan moved her dreadlocks during the exchange so she could read her name badge.
‘That’s a no-no,’ Miss Fulani said. ‘I wouldn’t put my hands in someone’s hair, and culturally it’s not appropriate.’
Queen Elizabeth ll, accompanied by her lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, in 2012
She added: ‘Although I didn’t experience physical violence, what I feel I experienced was a form of abuse.’
The Palace said it took the incident extremely seriously’ and had investigated immediately.
Harry also said he would not describe as racist comments allegedly made by an unnamed family member about Archie’s skin colour, after the bombshell allegation was raised during the Sussexes’ interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey last March.
Harry told Tom Bradby: ‘You speak to any other mixed race couple around the world, and you will probably find that the white side of the family have either openly discussed it, or secretly discussed ‘What are the kids gonna look like?’
‘And that is part of a bigger conversation that needs to be had.
He added: ‘The difference between racism and unconscious bias, the two things are different.
‘But once it’s been acknowledged, or pointed out to you as an individual, or as an institution, that you have unconscious bias, you therefore have an opportunity to learn and grow from that in order so that you are part of the solution rather than part of the problem.’
Asked why he had not identified the family member involved, Harry said: ‘I will never talk about that.’
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