Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Celtics Game
Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Celtics Game in Boston
Prince William and Princess Catherine’s first trip to the United States in almost a decade has been met with a wave of controversy. While the couple enjoyed a Boston Celtics game from their courtside seats, headlines back home in the UK told a different story.
Allegations of racism within Buckingham Palace have cast a long shadow over the royal couple’s visit. Ngozi Fulani, a charity executive, recently shared her experience at a palace event hosted by Queen Consort Camilla.
Ngozi Fulani at Buckingham Palace
Ngozi Fulani at Buckingham Palace
Fulani alleges that she was repeatedly asked about her nationality by Lady Susan Hussey, Prince William’s godmother and a long-time lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth. Despite stating she was British, Hussey persisted, asking “where do you really come from?” and “what part of Africa are you from?”
The incident has sparked outrage and reignited discussions about racism within the royal family. Fulani has spoken out about the incident, describing it as a form of abuse and questioning how it could happen in a place meant to protect women.
Lady Susan Hussey has since resigned from her position and issued an apology for the hurt caused by her comments. However, the damage has been done, with the incident dominating headlines and overshadowing the purpose of William and Kate’s US visit.
Adding fuel to the fire, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, chose this tumultuous time to release the trailer for their upcoming Netflix docuseries. The minute-long trailer hints at explosive revelations about the couple’s experience within the royal family, with Harry stating that “no one sees what happens behind closed doors.”
The timing of the trailer release has been widely interpreted as a deliberate move to upstage William and Kate’s visit. The Sussexes have been vocal critics of the royal institution since stepping down from their senior roles in 2020, and their Netflix series is expected to provide further insight into their perspective on the monarchy.
Despite the controversy, William and Kate have continued with their engagements in Boston. They have met with local communities and organizations working on environmental issues and youth support. The couple also met with President Biden, demonstrating the importance of their diplomatic role.
However, the shadow of the racism scandal and the looming presence of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix series continue to hang heavy over the visit. The coming days will reveal whether the Prince and Princess of Wales can successfully navigate these choppy waters and salvage the remainder of their US tour.