A top lawyer claims he was questioned about his ethnicity by the same woman who insisted a black activist reveal her “heritage.”
Nazir Afzal, former Chief Prosecutor for the Northwest, attended the same charity event Buckingham palace as Ngozi Fulani on Tuesday night.
He said Lady Susan Hussey, who was a close friend of the late Queen and is Prince William’s godmother, also asked him where he was from.
He tweeted: “She only asked me once about my heritage and seemed to accept my answer – Manchester currently! However, racism is never far away.’
The palace is currently involved in dramatic racing about Lady Susan repeatedly asking Mrs. Fulani about her nationality and allegedly refusing to accept the answer that she is British.
The activist, whose charity provides specialist support for domestic violence victims of African and Caribbean descent, posted about the exchange yesterday.
She tweeted a transcript of the “violating” conversation that included, “Where are you from?”
Me: “Here, UK”. “No, but what nationality are you?” Me: “I was born here and I’m British.” “No, but where do you actually come from, where do your people come from?” Me: “My people, lady, what is this?”
“Oh, I see I’m going to have a challenge to tell you where you’re from.”
Prince William, in the US for the Earthshot Prize ceremony, said it was ‘really disappointing’, adding: ‘Racism has no place in our society, these comments were unacceptable. It is true that the individual has resigned.’
Buckingham Palace released a statement saying ‘deeply regrettable comments’ had been made, adding that ‘the person concerned would like to express its deepest apologies for the pain caused’.
“We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani on this matter and invite her to personally discuss all elements of her experience if she wishes,” it said.
But this morning, Mrs. Fulani said she had not heard anything from the palace.
She told Good Morning Britain that Lady Hussey had “guided” her before asking “about seven or eight times” where she was from.
She said, “Then you realize this isn’t about age. She seems quite capable of controlling herself. This is what it is, this is what you call racism. I’m there for two hours and I feel like I have to leave, I want to leave, but I don’t know what to do.
“People keep saying that the palace has contacted me. They have not contacted me. I tell you categorically, we have not heard.
“We care about positive results. We are happy with that conversation. This is about violence against women and girls. I have not experienced any physical violence, I feel I have experienced some form of abuse.
‘I have clarity. That’s racism.’
She added: “It was like an interrogation. That’s the only way I can explain it.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
The conversation as remembered by Ngozi Fulani
Lady SH: ‘Where are you from?’
Ms. Fulani: “Sistah space.”
SCH: ‘No where are you from?
Ms. Fulani: “We’re based in Hackney.”
SCH: ‘No, which part of Africa are YOU from?’
Ms. Fulani: “I don’t know, they left no files.”
SCH: “Well, you must know where you come from, I spent time in France. Where are you from?’
Ms. Fulani: ‘Here, UK’
SCH: ‘No, but what nationality are you?’
Ms. Fulani: “I was born here and I’m British.”
SCH: ‘No, but where do you actually come from, where do your people come from?’
Ms. Fulani:‘My people’, lady, what is this?’
SCH: “Oh, I see I’m going to have a challenge to get you to say where you’re from. When did you first come here?’
Ms. Fulani: ‘Lady! I have British nationality, my parents came here in the 50’s when…’
SCH: “Oh I knew we’d get there eventually, you’re Caribbean!”
Ms. Fulani: “No lady, I am of African descent, Caribbean descent and British nationality.”
SCH: “Oh so you’re from…”
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