MEG ROYAL RACE ROW
Black brooch gaffe shock
PRINCE Harry’s fiancée Meghan Markle found herself caught in a race row at her first big event with the Royal Family.
A senior royal turned up for the Buckingham Palace Christmas banquet flaunting a “racist” brooch that sparked outrage.
PRINCESS Michael of Kent was blasted last night after she turned up for a royal lunch with Meghan Markle wearing a “racist” brooch.
The Austrian aristocrat caused a backlash by pinning a “blackamoor” piece on her coat.
It is the image of a black person wearing a turban dating back to the 18th century and which is widely regarded as racially insensitive.
The Queen’s Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace was the first engagement Prince Harry’s mixed-race fiancée Meghan has attended with the Royal Family.
Princess Michael, who is married to the Queen’s cousin and is known as Princess Pushy, flaunted the jewellery as she went through the palace gates on Wednesday.
It is understood she was not seated at the same table as Meghan, but the pair would have been introduced.
Social media users were outraged. One fumed: “I hope the Queen is going to ban this racist, horrible woman from any further gatherings. She is an embarrassment to the Royal Family.” Another added: ® “Has no-one noticed the blackamoor pin that Princess Michael of Kent is wearing? Really? Meghan Markle officially meets the family and is greeted by THIS?”
In 2004 the Princess was accused of insulting black diners at a New York restaurant by allegedly telling them to “go back to the colonies”. She denied the claims.
Pride
US actress Meghan has previously spoken out about the racism she faced in the past.
She said: “My dad is Caucasian and my mum is African American. I’m half black and half white. I have come to embrace this and say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident, mixedrace woman.”
Last night a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The brooch was a gift and has been worn many times before. Princess Michael is very sorry and distressed that it has caused offence.”
Meanwhile, bookies Coral have Sir Elton John as favourite to perform at Harry and Meghan’s wedding on May 19 at odds of 2-1.