Part of the Royal Family has decided not to participate in the ‘diversity and inclusiveness’ training
Part of the royal family has decided not to participate in ‘diversity and inclusion’ training programs – despite the Lady Hussey scandal and finger-pointing Sussexes
- Courses were called ‘unconscious bias training’ and ‘diversity in the workplace’
- The courses have been well received by the court staff
Some members of the Royal Family have decided not to participate in ‘diversity and inclusion’ training courses, The Mail on Sunday reports.
The voluntary programs, consisting of both online and face-to-face classes, were provided by outside companies and offered to both domestic workers and members of the royal family.
But an insider tells this newspaper: “I don’t know any members of the Royal Family who participated in the training.”
One course was called ‘unconscious bias training’ and the other ‘diversity in the workplace’.
“I know some Royals have kicked the unconscious bias into contact and haven’t participated yet,” the source added. Buckingham Palace declined to confirm last night which members of the royal family – if any – had completed diversity courses.
A ‘strategy and action plan’ for inclusion and diversity was initiated after Lady Susan Hussey, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen, asked a black guest at Buckingham Palace, ‘Where are you really from?’
In the wake of Harry and Meghan’s claims in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince William told a reporter: ‘We are not a racist family at all’
But they added that while not required, they were well received by staff within the royal household.
A Buckingham Palace official said: ‘I wouldn’t comment on individual members of the royal family, but what’s important is that the inclusion and diversity training is available to all members of the royal family and all senior leaders within the household. ‘
A ‘strategy and action plan’ for inclusion and diversity was initiated after Lady Susan Hussey, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen, asked a black guest at Buckingham Palace, ‘Where are you really from?’
Lady Susan subsequently resigned her position at the palace over the “deeply regrettable” comments.
In 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also pointed the finger at an unnamed member of the royal family who questioned the color of their unborn child’s skin.
In the wake of Harry and Meghan’s claims in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince William told a reporter, “We’re not a racist family at all.”
The Palace’s programs are designed to teach employees how to behave appropriately towards colleagues from different ethnic backgrounds and how to be biased in decisions based on race, gender and sexuality.
Next year, the Palace staff team plans to “measure progress on cultural change related to inclusion and diversity through a family survey.”