Prince William's staff "frantically called" Buckingham Palace after a race storm erupted, a royal author has claimed.
In his new book, Robert Hardman referred to an incident where Queen Elizabeth II's former lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, was accused of questioning a guest about her heritage at a Palace reception in November 2022.
Ngozi Fulani, a representative of Sistah Space, a London-based charity for female domestic violence victims of African and Caribbean heritage, said she felt "violated" and "interrogated" when Lady Susan repeatedly asked her: "Where do you really come from?"
The incident went viral after Fulani posted her version of events on social media.
Prince William's staff 'frantically called' Buckingham Palace after race storm erupted
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Lady Susan, 84, subsequently stepped aside from her position and issued an apology.
She had served the late monarch at Buckingham Palace since 1960 and was also Prince William's godmother.
The Palace issued a statement saying it had "investigated immediately", describing the comments as "unacceptable and deeply regrettable" and invited Fulani to discuss her experience.
During this incident, the Prince and Princess of Wales were travelling to the US to host William's Earthshot Prize.
Princess Kate and Prince William at the Earthshot Prize Awards in Boston last yearPAThe prince's staff "frantically" called Buckingham Palace for clarification, according to Hardman.
He wrote: "Given the months of preparation for this event, they had visions of the whole mission being derailed by a 'royal race storm'."
Prince William issued a statement saying he was "really disappointed" to hear about Fulani's experience, adding: "Racism has no place in our society, these comments were unacceptable."
Hardman added: "It had been a well-intentioned attempt to seek some sort of common ground.
Lady Susan Hussey quit her honorary role as a Lady of the Household following a storm over her comments to FulaniRoyal CommunicationsLATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Lady Susan Hussey attending the CoronationPA"One of those guests, however, had felt clearly marginalised and unwelcome as a result. A case which had landed out of nowhere on social media at 7.25am had been heard, judged and closed by teatime."
A process of reconciliation between the two women was shortly put into action by the Palace.
The King's director of community engagement, Dr Eva Omaghomi, and the Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, organised a meeting between the two women. It took place two weeks later in the Palace's Regency Room.
Lady Susan apologised again and Fulani brought her a gift.