Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Buckingham Palace pledges to 'do more' as data shows low minority ethnic staff

Buckingham Palace pledges to 'do more' as data shows low minority ethnic staff

BUCKINGHAM PALACE has admitted that it “must do more” as it came to light for the first time on Thursday (24) that Britain's royal family employs a very low proportion of ethnic minority staff, amounting to just 8.5 per cent.

"It is not that we have not been progressing diversity and inclusion initiatives during this period, it is that simply the results have not been what we would like," a palace source said, adding that the target for 2022 is 10 per cent.


The source added that Her Majesty and other members of the royal family have actively promoted and embraced the diversity and the household had published the figures so there could be "no place to hide".

"We recognise we must do more. One of the key points about publishing statistics is that there's no place to hide."

The Royal Household's annual financial accounts for 2020-21 show that 8.5 per cent of its staff are from an ethnic minority background as compared to UK population share where 13 per cent is from ethnic minority while London has 40 per cent population from BAME background.

The royal statistic, the source of much speculation, had previously only been kept internally and has been made public for the first time.

Reacting to the palace’s revelation, co-founder of Race Equality Matters Raj Tulsiani said that the Palace did not "deserve a pat on the back" for saying it hopes to improve.

Pointing out that there was no breakdown of the 8.5 per cent figure, he suggested there can be a "vastly higher percentage of people in lower paid jobs than there are in positions of power and influence".

It was reported earlier this month that the royal household negotiated exemptions from 1970s-era laws against racial and gender discrimination to bar "coloured immigrants or foreigners" and only consider them for subaltern roles and not for senior position.

Buckingham Palace has denied the claims, saying it complies with modern equality legislation.

The revelation comes three months after explosive claims of racism against the monarchy from Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Prince Harry and his mixed-race wife Meghan.

Meghan and Harry, who stepped down from frontline royal duties in March last year, claimed an unnamed senior royal asked what colour skin their son, Archie, would have.

Disputing the claim, the palace said that "recollections may vary", while Harry's elder brother, Prince William, insisted that “we are very much not a racist family."

More For You

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'
Dr Chaand Nagpaul

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'

LABOUR's latest announcement to cut NHS waiting lists, while welcome, does not go far enough, the former leader of the doctors’ union, Chaand Nagpaul has told Eastern Eye.

Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, unveiled his plans on Monday (6). He pledged Labour would set up more NHS hubs in community locations in England, and the service would make greater use of the private sector to help meet the challenge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'
Nazir Afzal

Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'

POLITICIANS must dial down “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric and recognise the contributions of all communities in Britain, prominent south Asians have told Eastern Eye.

They are concerned that recent social media attacks on asylum seekers, immigrants, especially British Pakistanis, as well as ministers will lead to unnecessary deaths.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa-Nandy-Getty

The culture secretary retains powers to refer the case to the Competition and Markets Authority, which could trigger an investigation into press freedom concerns linked to Abu Dhabi’s involvement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Calls grow for Lisa Nandy to end Telegraph ownership stalemate

THE SALE of The Telegraph newspaper has drawn widespread political calls for culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and end the prolonged uncertainty surrounding its ownership.

The newspaper has been in limbo for 20 months after an auction process initiated by RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund, failed to secure a suitable buyer.

Keep ReadingShow less
illegal-migrants-getty

According to government data, over 36,800 people crossed the Channel in 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Labour government reports highest illegal migrant removals since 2018

THE LABOUR government announced on Thursday that it had removed 16,400 illegal migrants since taking office in July, the fastest rate of removals since 2018.

On taking office, prime minister Keir Starmer scrapped the previous Conservative government's scheme to send migrants who arrive illegally to Rwanda, instead setting up a Border Security Command to crack down on illegal migration – a huge political issue in Britain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

Shafaz Khan (L), Choudhry Rashied (Photo: Home Office)

Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

TWO London-based men have been sentenced to over 10 years behind bars after being convicted of breaching UK immigration law by trying to smuggle four Indian migrants in a hidden van compartment disguised by a stack of dirty tyres.

According to the UK Home Office, British nationals Shafaz Khan and Choudhry Rashied, who operated under the alias ‘Manzar Mian Attique’, hid the group of migrants behind the tyres in a “purpose built” hidden space in the vehicle.

Keep ReadingShow less