Buckingham Palace is considering appointing an officer who would serve as the diversity czar after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s disturbing interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to several media reports.
A source said the palace has been working for some time to improve diversity in royal families, but little progress has been made.
Diversity is an “issue that has been taken very seriously in royal families,” the source told CNN and British media.
“We have policies, procedures and programs in place, but we have not seen the progress we would like and we accept that more needs are made,” added the source. “The work to do this has been going on for some time and has the full support of the family.”
Appointing a diversity czar to lead the effort is on the table, but it is still too early to announce any “firm plans”, the source explained. “We are listening and learning, to do it right,” added the source.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex complained about racist British press coverage for Winfrey in an interview earlier this month. But in the most disturbing revelation, they said that a member of the royal family had talked to them about “concerns” about how dark their son’s skin would be. They did not name the family member, but Winfrey later clarified that it was not Queen Elizabeth or Prince Phillip.
Buckingham Palace is already scheduled to review diversity policies in all royal families, including Clarence House and Kensington Palace, the BBC reported.
The Guardian reported that the royal advisers would participate in a “listen and learn” process on inclusion in the coming weeks. The event will involve individuals and business leaders sharing thoughts on how the monarchy can improve the representation of people of color, members of the LGBTQ + community and individuals with disabilities.
In a statement on behalf of the queen after Winfrey’s interview, Buckingham Palace said the allegations of racism made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “worrying”, adding that they would be “taken very seriously” and “dealt with in private for the family . “
After the interview, Prince William told a reporter that “we are not a racist family”.
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