London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026

Ngozi Fulani: Charity boss in Palace race row faces online abuse

Ngozi Fulani: Charity boss in Palace race row faces online abuse

A black British charity boss who was repeatedly asked where she was "really" from during a royal reception says she has suffered "horrific" abuse on social media after speaking out.

Ngozi Fulani says her family has been under immense pressure, but she has been heartened by messages of support.

Her comments come after she felt she was "interrogated" by Lady Susan Hussey at Buckingham Palace last Tuesday.

Lady Hussey has since left her honorary role within the Royal Household.

Ms Fulani - who had been at the Palace representing the London-based charity Sistah Space which supports women of African and Caribbean heritage who have faced domestic and sexual abuse - felt she has had to highlight an issue which "occurs on an all too regular basis".

In a statement Ms Fulani has described her experiences since speaking out as "an emotional whirlwind".

"The last week has been an extremely difficult time for us all at Sistah Space," she said.

"My team, family and I have been put under immense pressure and received some horrific abuse via social media.

"Yet throughout this time I have been heartened by the huge amount of support we have received."


Lady Susan Hussey was a key and trusted figure in the British royal household for decades

Lady Hussey was the late Queen's lady-in-waiting and was seen as a key and trusted figure in the Royal Household for decades.

Part of her latest role had involved helping to host events at Buckingham Palace - which is how she met Ms Fulani.

After the event, Ms Fulani described on Twitter how Lady Hussey - who is Prince William's godmother - moved her hair aside to see her name badge, and then challenged her to explain where she was from.

The conversation, as recounted by Ms Fulani, consisted of Lady Hussey pushing her about her background and nationality.

Lady Hussey is said to have asked what part of Africa Ms Fulani was from, to which Ms Fulani replied she was born in the UK.

Ms Fulani told Lady Hussey her parents arrived in the UK in the 1950s adding that she was of African heritage, Caribbean descent and British nationality.

In her statement issued on Monday, Ms Fulani added: "What took place at the event is now well documented, and sadly is something that occurs on an all too regular basis.

"Incidents like this not only cause emotional harm to those involved but do also have wider repercussions within the community.

"I have experienced first-hand what happens when a black woman faces adversity and has to overcome additional barriers when trying to report it."

The BBC understands Lady Hussey remains willing to make a personal apology should it be welcomed.

Last week a spokesperson for Prince William, who is Lady Hussey's godson, said "racism has no place in our society.

"The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect."


Charity boss Ngozi Fulani says Buckingham Palace experience felt like violence


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Doctors Warn Expanded Pharmacy First Scheme Could Put Patients at Risk
British Airlines Cut Short-Haul Capacity as Jet Fuel Costs Rise
UK News Publishers Forecast 40% Search Traffic Drop as AI Overviews Expand
Axel Springer Wins Approval for £575 Million Daily Telegraph Acquisition
London Mayor Sadiq Khan Opposes Heathrow Third Runway Over Climate Targets
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Leaders Hold Summit Seeking Greater Autonomy
UK Energy Price Cap Set to Rise to £1,723 in October
UK Treasury Warns Middle East Conflict Is Threatening Economic Growth
Labour Moves to Retrospectively Cap Overseas Political Donations After Reform UK Funding Surge
HMRC Warns Nearly Seven Million Adults Are Unclear About State Pension Entitlements
UK Parliament Passes Sovereign Grant Reform Before Conference Recess
British Rail Passengers Gain Automatic Right to Switch Operators During Disruptions
Burnham Hosts Downing Street Business Summit as UK Fiscal Pressure Builds
Labour Government Moves to Challenge £72 Million in Reform UK Crypto Donations
UK Advertising Industry Warns Wider Junk Food Rules Could Put £1 Billion in Media Spending at Risk
Cornwall Opens Devolution Talks With UK Government Over Transport and Local Services
UK Parliament Considers Sovereign Grant Reform Setting Royal Funding at £99.9 Million
Trades Union Congress Calls for Income-Based Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Bank Levy
UK Prime Minister Rejects Second Scottish Independence Referendum
House of Lords Begins Scrutiny of Bill to Lower UK Voting Age to 16
Anthropic Says Claude Was Exploited in Weapons-Related and State-Linked Cyber Activity
Institute of Directors Urges UK Government to Avoid Business Tax Increases in Autumn Budget
Rising Gilt Yields Cut UK Fiscal Headroom to About £13 Billion Ahead of Budget
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Services and Technology Activity Strengthen
UK Government Promises Clearer Student Loan Guidance After Repayment Backlash
Charities Warn Unpaid Carers May Die Before Receiving Government Compensation
Dover Unrest Prompts Review of UK Counter-Extremism Strategy
Celtic Summit Leaders Reassert Right to Pursue Independence From UK
NHS Records Busiest Summer on Record Amid Severe Heatwaves
Harrods Faces Potential £150 Million Compensation Bill Over Al Fayed Abuse Claims
UK Parliament Opens Debate on Landmark Assisted Dying Legislation
Metropolitan Police Investigate Reform UK Over Alleged Foreign Electoral Donations
UK Economy Expands 0.4% in July as AI Investment Boosts Activity
Bank of England Signals Caution on Rates as Inflation Pressures Persist
Tesco Alerts Police After Scammers Use Its Branding in AI-Generated Fraud
Lindy Cameron Appointed First Female Permanent Under-Secretary at UK Foreign Office
UK Government to Rewrite Student Loan Guidance After Mis-Selling Criticism
Welsh First Minister Warns Andy Burnham Government to Respect Devolution
Trump’s Falkland Islands Remarks Trigger New Diplomatic Tension With Britain
Reform UK Receives Record £72 Million Donation From Cryptocurrency Billionaires
UK Bans Imports From Israeli West Bank Settlements and Sanctions Supporting Institutions
Bayeux Tapestry Draws Large Crowds at British Museum
Cuts to International Aid Raise Concerns Over Fragile Overseas Health Systems
UK Airlines and Logistics Operators Adjust Capacity as Fuel Costs Rise
UK Mortgage Arrears Edge Lower in Second Quarter
UK Government Advances New Devolution Offers for English Councils
UK Parliament Begins Debate on NHS Governance and Single Patient Record Reforms
Andy Burnham Launches Number 10 North Devolution Initiative
UK Parliament Rejects Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill Adults
UK Bans Goods From Israeli Settlements in the Occupied West Bank
×