Royal Family could recruit diversity chief after race row

BUCKINGHAM Palace is to consider appointing a diversity chief as “more needs to be done” to address the issue, a royal source has said.

The proposals, which have the “full support” of the Royal Family, aim to seek independent views to help assess and improve representation across the Royal Household.

It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed in an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey that a member of the family – not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh – had made a racist comment about their son, Archie.

While the work being undertaken around diversity pre-dates the couple’s interview, their comments will be taken on board as part of the process, it is understood.

The royal source said: “This is an issue which has been taken very seriously across the Royal Households. Therefore we are not afraid to look at new ways of approaching it. We are listening and learning, to get this right.”

In a statement released this month, Buckingham Palace said in response to Harry and Meghan’s interview claims that the issues raised, particularly that of race, were “concerning”.

THE DUKE of Cambridge felt like his brother had “blindsided” the Queen and behaved in an “insulting and disrespectful way” following the surprise launch of the SussexRoyal website last year, according to a senior Royal source.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s announcement, outlining their own plans for the future, reportedly upset William greatly ahead of a Royal Family meeting to negotiate the terms of the couple’s decision to step back from frontline Royal duties.

Following a decree from the

Queen, the couple conceded that they could not use the word “royal” for personal projects, but said that the monarchy had “no jurisdiction” overseas.

A royal source told The Sunday Times newspaper that the content of Harry and Meghan’s response had been “staggering”.

“That was it for William, he felt they’d blindsided the Queen in such an insulting and disrespectful way,” they said.

Friends of the Duke also denied claims made by Harry during his interview with Oprah Winfrey that William felt “trapped” as a Royal.

“He has a path set for him and he’s completely accepting of his role. He is very much his grandmother’s grandson in that respect of duty and service,” they told The Sunday Times.

He was reported to be unhappy when the Queen was asked to prorogue Parliament in 2019, which was later deemed to be unlawful by the Supreme Court.

Under William’s rule there would be a “more private, robust challenging of advice,” the source said.

Miguel Head, who previously worked as the future king’s private secretary, said William would continue to balance issues he was “passionate” about and the tradition of the Royal Family.

“I can’t see him backing away from causes he’s passionate about. And while he’s not someone who loves ceremony, he knows the importance of it,” he told The Sunday Times.

“When he gets the top job he won’t do away with it all. He’s mindful the monarchy represents something timeless that’s above all of us, and many people like the magic and theatre of it.”

It emerged last month that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been stripped of their prestigious Royal patronages as the couple confirmed their decision to walk away from the monarchy was permanent.

Harry and Meghan’s landmark announcement in January last year that they were to step down from front-line Royal duties and move to the US to pursue personal and financial freedom has come at a cost.

Among the roles Harry will lose are Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving.

Meghan is losing two Royal patronages, the Royal National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

She also gives up the vice-presidency of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

The Duchess keeps two private patronages for Smart Works and the animal charity Mayhew.

The decision came after the Duke held talks with his grandmother, the Queen, and other senior members of the Royal Family ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Sussexes formally stepping down as working Royals on March 31.

He’s mindful the monarchy represents something timeless. Miguel Head, who previously worked as the future king’s private secretary.