It is 6 May 2023, and King Charles III is being crowned. You are one of the honorary guests at his coronation. As he stretches out his hand to shake yours, you ask "Your Majesty, where are you from?"

He might answer, puzzled, that he is from the British Royal Family, to which you might reply: "no, where are you really from?"

Although the Royal Family has become synonymous with the pompCeremony and display. and circumstance of British tradition, King Charles III has approximately half German ancestry. However, it is hard to imagine anybody ever grilling a royal about their "real" roots.

Today, the same cannot be said for their guests. Another royal race scandal has exploded following royal aide Lady Susan Hussey's "offensive, racist and unwelcoming" treatment of a Black charity founder at Buckingham Palace.

Ngozi Fulani, who founded the domestic abuse charity Sistah Space, was approached at a palace reception by the late Queen Elizabeth II's lady-in-waitingA female personal assistant to a woman who is part of a royal family. . Lady Hussey reportedly moved her hair aside to view her name badge and proceeded to "interrogate" her about "where she is really from", even demanding to know where Fulani's "people" originated.

Fulani, who was born and raised in Britain, took to Twitter to document the exchange. Since then Lady Hussey, a longtime member of the Royal household, has resigned from her position and apologised.

We take such allegations "very seriously," says the Palace. "Racism has no place in our society," added a spokesperson for Prince William. But this is far from the first racism upset in the Royal Family.

In 2018, the King's son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan MarkleAn American actress and the wife of Prince Harry. Also known as the Duchess of Sussex. decided to step down from their royals as senior royals, later citing "endemicCommon to a particular place or community. racism" within British society, the Royal Family and the British press.

Queen Elizabeth II famously never apologised for the monarchy's participation in colonialism. Until at least the 1960s, people of colour were banned from serving in the royal household. Some even speculate that they had links with Nazi Germany in the 1930s.¹

Some say that the older royals are a product of their time, and that younger members of the family will champion anti-racism as society develops.

Others argue that racism is more institutional: built on the former British Empire, the British monarchy historically funded slave voyages and stole numerous valuables from former colonies.

Some even dispute that the imperial role of the monarchy is over, pointing out that King Charles still prevails as Head of StateThe public person who officially represents the unity and legitimacy of a state. over 150 million people, and that his role as Head of the CommonwealthOfficially called the Commonwealth of Nations, it was set up in 1926. There are 54 members in all. It grew out of the British Empire and many members, although not all, were former British colonies. gives him power over 2.5 billion people worldwide.

Yes: The Royal family is an institution built on racism, from Britain's colonial past up to the present day. The first Black member of the family quit her role due to abuse from the media and public, saying the family did not support her.

No: We cannot call it institutional. The fact that individuals who are linked to the family have been accused of racism is by no means proof that it is "institutionally racist."

Or... The problem is not just with the Royal Family. The British public and media are also responsible for racism in British society, and we need to tackle the problem as a whole, without just focusing on the Royals.