Uckingham Palace has not yet met its diversity target, with an immigrant staff share of just 9.6%.
Last year it was 8.5%, with the Royal House setting a target of 10% for 2022.
A leading royal source said the Queen and the Windsors had embraced the nation’s diversity, and the effort to improve diversity within the palace’s workforce has come from all over the royal family.
But the source said a “listening exercise” conducted with Palace employees to explore their experiences showed that “in building a more inclusive culture, we need to more clearly recognize the strength of our communities, especially in the differences we see.” bring all.”
The percentage of immigrant workers was first published last year in response to accusations of racism by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex against the Royal Family in their interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Buckingham Palace is behind Clarence House at 9.6%, which has 10.6% of its staff from ethnic minority backgrounds, while Kensington Palace is ahead at 13.6%.
A leading royal source said of Buckingham Palace’s figures: “We still have a long way to go…but we’ve achieved a 9.6.
“We recognize that we are not where we want to be.”
The source said the 10% target had been set for the end of 2022.
They added: “Her Majesty and the Royal Family have promoted and embraced the diversity of our nation and that of the Commonwealth.
“We recognize that our workforce must be reflective of the communities we serve so that leadership comes not just from the Lord Chamberlain’s Committee, but from the entire Royal Family.”
The “listening exercise” was conducted with palace staff to understand their views on the “culture and ways of working of the household,” the 2021-22 Sovereign Grant report showed.
The initiative was supported by a specialist inclusion and diversity consultancy, and the feedback and focus groups were used to develop a new inclusion and diversity strategy.
The household has also set up a new Inclusion and Diversity working group.
The Duke of Cambridge stressed the importance of diversity at the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument last week.
I recognized the contribution of the Windrush generation and spoke about the racism and discrimination that black men and women continue to face in modern Britain.
William said: “Diversity is what makes us strong, and it is what reflects the modern, outward-looking values that are so important to our country.”
Meghan, the first mixed race person to marry a senior royal for centuries, said an unnamed royal – neither the Queen nor the Duke of Edinburgh – expressed concern with Harry about how dark their son Archie’s complexion might be before he was born.
The Queen issued a statement saying that the issues raised would be treated privately as a family, but that “some memories may differ”.
In the UK, about 13% of the British population has a minority ethnic background, according to 2011 Census data.