London recalled her own experiences with racism in the industry (Picture: Getty)
Comedian London Hughes has weighed in on the Buckingham Palace race row after a member of staff repeatedly asked a Black woman where she came from.
Lady Susan Hussey, who was a close friend of the late Queen and is Prince William’s godmother, quit her role after making comments towards charity boss Ngozi Fulani at a reception.
She has also since apologised, while the chief executive of Sistah Space described the conversation as a ‘violation’ and said the experience will ‘never leave me’.
Appearing on The Last Leg on Friday night, Laughter Shock star London recalled her own experiences with racism.
She seemed to reference a specific broadcaster with her anecdote, claiming a similar thing happened to her when on a writing job.
‘This is the thing about Britain. I think that every Black British person has been asked, “Where are you from? Where are you really from?”, and it’s so unnecessary’, she began.
Lady Susan Hussey has since left her role at Buckingham Palace (Picture: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
‘I’ve had it personally. I was doing a writing job for a channel, a Big British Channel, and I was writing about my parents and a senior woman who works for the Big British Channel, said to me, “Why don’t you write about how your parents felt when they came here on the boat from Africa?”.’
Proceeding to explain her family’s background, London said: ‘Let’s be clear, my dad is from Crawley, near Gatwick, and my mum came from Jamaica when she was five. But she is also a British person.’
She added: ‘And the fact that they see us and they don’t really think we’re one of them, it’s so… and you don’t ask white people! Like, someone ask Boris Johnson where he’s from! New York! Boris Johnson was born in New York! But no one asks him that, but they ask me, and I’m from Croyden.’
Ngozi Fulani described the comments as a ‘violation’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Last Leg host Adam Hills then read out a statement issued after Lady Hussey’s remarks, quoting the Spectator as saying: ‘Susan Hussey has no prejudices at all. She spent much of her life married to a man called Mamaduke who had one leg’.
The audience and panelists were left stunned and burst into fits of laughter, as Adam stated: ‘You don’t become less prejudiced by marrying someone with one leg!’
‘It’s not like a blue badge for racism,’ he added.
‘Like, we’re all covered!’, London then joked. ‘It’s ok, I’m not racist, I have a one-legged friend! It doesn’t make any sense’.
Adam then teased: ‘Do you think people went up to her husband and said, “Where’s your leg gone? No, but where’s it really gone?”,’ leaving the studio audience in hysterics.
The comedian says no one asks white people where they are from like they do with Black people (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for WFTV Awards)
‘It’s now been reported that Lady Hussey was originally assigned to help Meghan Markle adjust to royal life, which explains a lot,’ Adam joked, before showing the trailer for Prince Harry and his wife’s new Netflix documentary.
Following the comments made by Lady Hussey, Prince William’s office also released a statement.
The Prince of Wales, who is currently in the US for the Earthshot Prize awards, said it was ‘really disappointing’, adding: ‘Racism has no place in our society, these comments were unacceptable. It’s right that the individual has stepped down.’
Prince William says racism has ‘no place in our society’ (Picture: Jane Barlow/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Buckingham Palace also said in a statement: ‘We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full details.
‘In this instance, unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made. We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani on this matter, and are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes.
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‘In the meantime, the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect.
‘All members of the Household are being reminded of the diversity and inclusivity policies which they are required to uphold at all times.’
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
The Last Leg airs Fridays at 10pm on Channel 4.
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Lady Susan Hussey asked Ngozi Fulani where she was ‘really from’.