Racism must be confronted, says UK PM Rishi Sunak as scandal rocks royal household

Breaking his silence on the latest race row to engulf the royal household, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said racism, whenever encountered, must be confronted.

Sunak said he had faced racism in his early life but believes the country has progressed since then. However, without directly commenting on the incident or the monarchy, he acknowledged that there is still work to be done.

“I have experienced racism in the past. But what I am pleased to say is that some of the things that I experienced while I was a kid I don’t think would happen today because our country has made incredible progress in tackling racism,” Sunak told reporters on Thursday.

“But the job is never done and that’s why whenever we see racism we must confront it. It’s right that we continually learn the lessons and move to a better future,” the British PM said.

Sunak’s remarks came in the wake of allegations of racism against Lady Susan Hussey, who is godmother to heir apparent Prince William and served as lay-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The controversy erupted when Ngozi Fulani, a British national of African heritage and Caribbean descent, wrote on Twitter that the royal aide had repeatedly asked her: “What part of Africa are you from?” when she attended an event hosted by King Charles’s wife Camilla, the queen consort, on Tuesday.

Without naming Lady Hussey, Fulani said she was left traumatised by her persistent inquiries. In the end, she told her: “I am born here and am British.”

As the scandal blew up, Lady Hussey resigned from her role in the royal household and apologised over the incident. The Buckingham Palace also issued a statement terming her comments as “unacceptable and deeply regrettable.”