Prince William's godmother makes Buckingham Palace return after controversy

Dorothy Reddin
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:38:24 +0000

Lady Susan Hussey returned to the royal fold on Tuesday, attending a Buckingham Palace reception commemorating what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday.

Prince William's godmother, who had largely withdrawn from public royal engagements, was spotted conversing with the Duke of Kent during the centenary celebrations. She chose to wear a black dress for the occasion.

The former lady-in-waiting had also been present the previous day at an exhibition celebrating the late monarch's fashion legacy, though photographers did not capture her attendance.

King Charles hosted the Palace gathering alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales and other senior royals.

Lady Susan stepped back from her position in November 2022 after being accused of making racist remarks to Ngozi Fulani, who leads the domestic abuse charity Sistah Space.

Ms Fulani had been invited to a Palace reception addressing violence against women when the encounter occurred.

She shared details of the exchange on X, calling it a "violation" that would stay with her permanently.

According to Ms Fulani, the household member persistently questioned her origins, at one point asking: "No, what part of Africa are you from?"

Buckingham Palace responded swiftly, describing the comments as "unacceptable and deeply regrettable" while launching an immediate investigation and reaching out to Ms Fulani directly.

Several weeks after the incident, Lady Susan met with Ms Fulani in person to apologise directly.

A subsequent statement confirmed that the apology had been accepted, describing their conversation as "filled with warmth and understanding".

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Her gradual return to royal circles began approximately a month following the reconciliation.

King Charles and Lady Susan were both seen attending a service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, though they arrived in separate vehicles.

Tuesday's centenary reception marked her most prominent public appearance alongside the Royal Family since the controversy, signalling her full reintegration into official duties.