Ken Olisa, London’s first black lieutenant, says race is a “hot topic of conversation” within the royal family, in an interview to be broadcast on Friday, PA Media reports. .
The royal family’s attitude towards the race has come to prominence recently following accusations of racism from Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and revelations that immigrants and foreigners Minorities were barred from holding clerical office until at least the late 1960s.
However, Olisa suggests that families should be open to talking about racism.
“I have been in discussions with the royal family about this whole issue of race, especially in the past 12 months since the George Floyd case,” he said.
“It’s a hot topic of conversation. The question is what more can we do to engage society to remove these barriers. They [the royals] passionately interested in making this one nation bound by the same values. “
Olisa was also asked if the royal family supported BLM. “The easy answer is yes,” he said.
The aide involved the Queen asked for his advice on visiting Grenfell Tower after the June 2017 fire that left 72 people dead, and he said she should go.
“I remember thinking like all that happened, it was pretty scary, we don’t know if she was booed or thrown things at her etc etc and when she walked out she walked out. car, all these people applauded,” added Olisa.
The interview is part of a show called “Black to Front,” which will air Friday night at 7 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) on Channel 4. The show is hosted by a an all-black team of speakers and reporters.
The royals continue to face questions around their attitude to the race after Harry and Meghan claimed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that a family member made racist remarks about the skin color of their first child. They later clarified through Winfrey that this was neither the Queen nor Prince Philip.
Buckingham Palace responded with a statement on behalf of the Queen.
“The issues raised, especially the issue of race, are of concern,” reads the statement. “While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be handled privately by the family.”
The Guardian’s investigation into recruitment practices also revealed that decades ago the palace used a parliamentary procedure known as “Queen’s consent” to gain immunity from the Kingdom’s laws. Britain aims to prevent discrimination in the workplace – including hiring people based on their ethnicity. The Queen remains exempt from those laws to this day, the Guardian reported.
And in June, Buckingham Palace admitted the royal household was not diverse enough.
The Sovereign Grant report reveals for the first time that the proportion of ethnic minority employees in the royal household is 8.5% – with a target of 10% by the end of 2022. According to the 2011 census, 14 % of the population of England and Wales is from an ethnic minority, while in Scotland the figure is 4%.
When the financial statements were released, a senior palace source emphasized diversity and inclusion, the training and programs in place but also admitted “we are not where we want to be”. .”
