Buckingham Palace has published its figures on its levels of ethnic minority staff for the first time as it admitted it “must do more” and is “not where it would like to be” in terms of diversity.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the royal family of racism in their Oprah Winfrey interview last year.
Following the bombshell allegations, the royal household has revealed in its annual financial accounts for 2020-2021 that its proportion of ethnic minority employees stands at just 8.5%, with a target of 10% for 2022.
In the UK, around 13% of the UK population is from a minority ethnic background, according to the latest 2011 Census data.
The Queen’s household also brought in a change to its Diversity Strategy in early 2020 – which predates the Oprah interview – to one that actively emphasises the importance of inclusion.
A senior palace source said the household had published the figures so there could be “no place to hide” and so they would be held accountable if no progress is made in the future.
“We are not where we would like to be despite our efforts,” the source said.
One Tory MP has decided on a different way to make the Queen accesible to all, taxpayers pay to have one sent to each household in the UK.
Conservative MP for Beaconsfield, Joy Morrissey, tweeted: “Received my new office portrait of The Queen today. In Australia citizens can write to their MP for a free portrait of The Queen – why can’t we do the same in the UK??
“I feel a campaign coming on… @themonarchists“
Well this went down well, although let’s be fair some Royalists will love the idea.
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