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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Robert Jobson

Prince William set to lead royal household diversity drive

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Earthshot Prize award ceremony in Boston

(Picture: REUTERS)

The Prince of Wales is spearheading a major diversity drive at Buckingham Palace.

William, 40, with the full backing of the King, wants the number of people from ethnic minorities working for the royal household to dramatically increase before he becomes monarch.

The prince, inset, who famously said “we are not a racist family” when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed otherwise in their Oprah interview, has been working behind the scenes to improve diversity at the Palace.

Statistics published for the first time last year revealed that 8.5 per cent of royal household employees are from ethnic minorities.

Under his leadership the King, guided by William, has set a Palace target to make that 10 per cent by the end of the year.

Ultimately, they want a royal household upwards of 15 to 18 per cent from ethnic minorities over the coming years to reflect the society they serve.

An insider said: “The Prince of Wales believes there is no place for racism today and should be challenged and must be rooted out... He is taking this very seriously and so is the King.”

It comes after William’s godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, repeatedly asked a black British charity boss where she was “really” from during a reception at the Palace last Tuesday. Ngozi Fulani said she felt she was “interrogated”. Lady Hussey has since left her honorary royal household role.

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