A black British charity boss who was repeatedly asked where she was "really" from by royal aide Lady Susan Hussey has described the encounter as "abuse". Ngozi Fulani was questioned about her background at a charity event at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Lady Hussey has resigned since the incident. Speaking to the BBC, Ms Fulani likened the conversation with Lady Hussey, 83, to "an interrogation".
The Palace described the remarks as "unacceptable and deeply regrettable". Ms Fulani, who founded domestic violence charity Sistah Space, rebuffed suggestions that Lady Hussey's remarks were linked to her age. "Let us be clear what this is. I've heard so many suggestions it's about her age and stuff like that, and I think that's kind of a disrespect - an ageism kind of thing," she told BBC Radio 4's Today program. "It was like an interrogation.
That's the only way I can explain it." She added: "If you invite people to an event, against domestic abuse, and there are people there from different demographics, I don't see the relevance of whether I'm British or not British." "You're trying to make me unwelcome in my own space." "I have to really question how this can happen in a space that's supposed to protect women against all kinds of violence. "Although it's not physical violence - it is an abuse."
