Racism row erupts as William and Kate visit Boston

Prince Williams office said racism has no place in our society as he sought to prevent the backlash over his godmothers treatment of a Black advocate for survivors of domestic abuse from overshadowing his trip to the United StatesLady Susan Hussey 83 resigned on Wednesday as an honorary member of the royal household after the chief executive of an east London womens refuge said Hussey repeatedly asked her where she really came from after she told the older woman that she was BritishThe exchange took place at a Buckingham Palace reception for those working to end domestic violenceRacism has no place in our society his Kensington Palace office said These comments were unacceptable and its right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effectThe incident reignited allegations of institutional racism at the palace on the first day of the Prince and Princess of Wales visit to Boston While the trip is focused on the Earthshot Prize Williams initiative to support entrepreneurs working on solutions to climate change and other environmental problems the royal couple are also trying to show that the monarchy remains relevant in a multicultural worldAlso Read Two guards three historysheeters held for ganja supply racket in Nagpur jailThe episode is a reminder of last years comments by Meghan the duchess of Sussex in an interview with American TV host Oprah WinfreyMeghan a biracial American married to Williams brother alleged that a member of the royal family inquired about the colour of her babys skin when she was pregnant with her first childThe latest incident took place at a reception on Tuesday hosted by Camilla the queen consort for women working to fight domestic violenceNgozi Fulani chief executive of Sistah Space an east London refuge that provides specialist support for women of African and Caribbean heritage detailed her exchange with a member of the royal household in lengthy Twitter postFulani said that when she told the woman she was from east London she responded No what part of Africa are YOU fromThe questioner has since been identified as Hussey who served as the late Queen Elizabeth IIs lady in waiting for more than 60 years and is one of Williams godmothersShe has apologised for unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments Buckingham Palace said in a statementBut the incident comes at a big moment for the royal couple their first overseas trip in eight years and their first since becoming Prince and Princess of Wales following the death of the queenThe highlight of the threeday visit to Boston will come on Friday when William hosts the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony headlined by entertainers including Billie EilishBut the trip will also include visits to an antipoverty programme child development researchers and local flood defences demonstrating the couples commitment to important issues facing the modern worldThe visit comes less than three months after the death of Elizabeth whose personal popularity dampened criticism of the crown during her 70year reign King Charles III Williams father has made clear that his will be a slimmeddown monarchy with less pomp and ceremony than its predecessorsWilliam and Kate arrived on Wednesday at Boston Logan International Airport where they were greeted by Massachusetts Gov Charlie Baker and Lt Gov Karyn Polito The couple later attend a Boston Celtics basketball gameUpon landing William thanked local residents for their many tributes paid to the late queen noting that his grandmother recalled her 1976 bicentennial visit to Boston with great fondnessThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever