Prince William said at a Ukrainian community event that it was “very alien” to see war in Europe, reportedly contrasting it with Africa and Asia, in comments that Martin Luther King’s daughter called “appalling”.
Bernice King linked the Duke of Cambridge’s remarks to colonialism after William and Kate Middleton visited the Ukrainian Cultural Center in London on March 9 to support relief efforts.
Outrage is fueling renewed pressure on the royals just days after the anniversary of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which they accused an unnamed royal of racism.
And just over a week before William and Kate embark on a Caribbean tour from March 19-26.
The Press Association report states that William also said that the British were more accustomed to seeing conflicts in Africa and Asia, although this remark was paraphrased and not directly quoted.
Quoting the Press Association, Prince William said: “It is very unusual to see this in Europe. We are all for you.”
Bernice King, executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, tweeted: “Terrible comment. Europeans brutally ruled the African continent, plundering communities, raping women, enslaving people, colonizing for profit and power, stealing resources, causing generational devastation. And European countries continue to harm Africa.”
Terrible comment.
Europeans ran wild across the African continent, plundering communities, raping women, enslaving people, colonizing for profit and power, stealing resources, causing generational devastation. And European countries continue to harm Africa. https://t.co/KRzfnVGQmN
— Be a king (@BerniceKing) March 10, 2022
Prince William and Kate Middleton visit the Ukrainian Cultural Center in London on March 9, 2022. During the meeting, the Duke of Cambridge suggested that it was alien to him to see the conflict in Europe. Jan Vogler-WPA Pool/Getty Images
Human rights lawyer Kasim Rashid tweeted: “Prince William says the conflict is ‘very alien’ to Europe, unlike Asia and Africa.”
“How can you have a 1000 year history of colonialism, a literal 100 year war, start 2 world wars, allow multiple genocides and bomb a dozen countries just after 9/11 and still make such a claim.”
Royal biographer Omid Scobie, author of In Search of Freedom, tweeted: “Not surprised to see backlash against Prince William’s ignorant remark (reported by @PA).
“Europe has experienced one of the bloodiest conflicts of the last two centuries – the Balkans, Yugoslavia, Germany and Kosovo, just to name a few. But of course, let’s normalize war and death in Africa and Asia.”
No wonder the backlash against Prince William’s clueless remark (reportedly @PA). Europe has experienced one of the bloodiest conflicts of the last two centuries – the Balkans, Yugoslavia, Germany and Kosovo, to name but a few. But of course, let’s normalize war and death in Africa and Asia. pic.twitter.com/49xYzFOyBK
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) March 9, 2022
This isn’t the first time Prince William has been accused of colonial rhetoric after linking pressure on Africa’s wildlife to populations in a November speech.
The Duke said: “The growing pressure on Africa’s wildlife and wilderness as a result of population growth poses a huge challenge for conservationists, as it does around the world.”
And a photo of Prince William being carried on the throne went viral after an interview with Oprah in 2021.
In a famous interview, Meghan told CBS how an unnamed member of the royal family made disparaging comments about how dark their baby’s skin could be before Archie was born.
She said: “So we have in tandem a conversation about not being given security, he’s not going to be given a title, and fears and talk about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
The Queen released a statement saying the royals took the comments seriously, but acknowledged that “some of the memories may differ”.
William was the first to personally comment on this, telling reporters a few days after the broadcast: “We are not a racist family at all.”
The British Empire at its height covered a quarter of the world, including India and much of South Asia, as well as much of Africa and the Caribbean.
A new backlash comes as William and Kate prepare for a Caribbean tour in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
Among the countries on their list is Jamaica, which recently held a debate on removing the monarch from the post of head of state, with one party in the 2020 elections pledged to hold a referendum on the issue.
The latest edition of the Newsweek podcast The Royal Report discussed the possibility of backlash against the Cambridges during their tour.
For more royal news and commentary, check out Newsweek’s The Royal Report podcast:
A recent editorial in the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner stated: “Firstly, this newspaper is extremely inconvenient, which we believe is the attitude of most Jamaicans that the monarch of Great Britain, who is currently Queen Elizabeth II, is the head of state of our country.
“Whoever takes this position is not a meaningless symbolism. This should be an important guide to who we are and our aspirations as a sovereign nation and people.
“Therefore, the patriarch of a dysfunctional family in the United Kingdom, who defined Jamaica’s long colonial experience, is not an appropriate symbol.”
Prince William was spotted visiting the Foundling Museum in London on January 19, 2022. During a separate visit in March in support of the British Ukrainian community, he suggested that it was alien to see conflict in Europe. Max Mumby / Indigo / Getty Images
Update 3/10/22 6:32 AM ET with additional information