BOSTON — Before Prince William opened his first event in Boston on Wednesday, the Rev. Mariama White-Hammond asked onlookers who had gathered to see the royals at City Hall to “consider the legacy of colonialism and racism” before the prince enters the stage.
“The way it’s impacted people around the world and its connection, its deep connection to the degradation of land and our planet that we’re all trying to reverse,” said White-Hammond, Boston’s director of environment, energy and Clearance said to the crowd.
“The lost stories, the extinct species, but also the perseverance of people in the face of oppression and the fundamental dignity of all our relationships,” she added.
White-Hammond’s comments came after a spokesman for the Prince of Wales on Wednesday morning condemned a racist incident that took place at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
A spokesman for the Mayor’s Office for Environment, Energy and Space confirmed that the remarks in White-Hammond’s speech were planned before the incident at the London Palace broke.
Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, City of Boston Director of Environment, Energy and Open Space, speaks a year ago as Mayor Michelle Wu stands by at VietAID. Her speech on Wednesday before Prince William’s address touched on racism and colonialism.Boston Herald via Getty Images
Ngozi Fulani, the founder of the charity Sistah Space, said she was invited to a reception at the palace by Queen Consort Camilla. At the event, a member of the royal household repeatedly asked her “what part of Africa” she was from and touched her hair, she said.
The member of staff who referred to Fulani as “Lady SH” is widely believed to be Lady Susan Hussey, 83, who is godmother to Prince William and former lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth.
Mixed feelings about yesterday’s visit to Buckingham Palace. 10 minutes after my arrival a member of staff, Lady SH, walked up to me, tugged my hair to see my name tag. The following conversation took place. The rest of the event is hazy.
Many Thanks @ManduReid & @SuzanneEJacob for the support🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/OUbQKlabyq— Sistah Space (@Sistah_Space) November 30, 2022
Williams’ team wasted no time in directly condemning the remarks in statements shared Wednesday.
“I was really disappointed when I heard about the guest’s experience at Buckingham Palace last night,” said a Kensington Palace spokesman. “Of course I wasn’t there, but racism has no place in our society. The comments were unacceptable and it is right that the individual resigned with immediate effect.”
The spokesman added that the prince would not comment further as the incident was a matter for Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace said it took the matter “extremely seriously” in relation to the “unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments”. [that] have been made.”
“Meanwhile, the affected person would like to express their sincere apologies for the pain caused and has resigned from their volunteer position with immediate effect.”
The royal family has been increasingly called upon over the years to come to terms with their history of colonialism and slavery, and to address allegations of racism within their own family.