The Problem with ‘We are Very Much Not a Racist Family’
The British Monarchy, whose roots are so deeply set in ideas of white supremacy, cannot simply deny their racism
In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the Royal Family of racism and neglect, setting off a national discussion of entrenched racism within the institution.
Perhaps the most shocking allegation of all was the ‘concerns’ expressed by an unnamed member of the family regarding how dark their mixed-raced child’s skin tone would be.
During a visit to a multi-racial school in a deprived area of east London, Prince William was quick to defend The Firm claiming they are ‘very much not a racist family’.
Surely such an outright denial is rather silly when you look at the facts?
The institution of the British monarchy goes back centuries, and a closer look will reveal its horrifying role in upholding and reinforcing the transatlantic slave trade up until the 19th century.
The British government firmly established racism in the country when they were faced with, what I imagine must have been, terribly inconvenient dilemmas caused from ruling territories with ‘natives’.
Despite the slave trade being abolished in Britain in 1833, racism was far too valuable to eradicate; the mythology of racism and white superiority became the handmaiden to the establishment of the British empire. Such a historical template means racial prejudice and inequality permeates modern British society today.
Meghan Markle’s treatment from the press and her accusations of racism in the Royal Family is a testament to just how deep-rooted racism is in British society.
An outright denial of racism does not achieve a whole lot more than what royal patronage of charities and attendance at high-profile events currently do.
The Royal Family may not have the power to change their colonial past; the sad reality is that their link to historical racism is inherently part of their identity. However, they do have the power to confront the uncomfortable truth of their present racism and engage in a meaningful dialogue that actively deconstructs such a devastatingly destructive social construct.
Anti-racism campaigners are calling for the royals to lose their exemption under race equality laws so they can be brought in line with the rest of the public. The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination in the workplace so all organisations in the public sector are obliged to adhere to this legislation.
Yet the Royal Family is funded by the taxpayer through the sovereign grant and exempt from these rules.
If they were not exempt, Meghan could have sought protection under the Equality Act 2010 as an individual who experienced discrimination as a pregnant, mixed race woman with mental health problems.
So actually, Prince William’s denial goes leaps and bounds to show just how much work there must be done if they cannot even recognise the undeniable racism in their family. Being ‘saddened to learn’ how challenging things must have been for Harry and Meghan simply does not cut it.
And let us not forget that their silence on the Black Lives Matter movement did not go unnoticed.
An explicit endorsement of the movement may have breached royal protocol to remain politically neutral but a general statement supporting racial equality would have cost them very little indeed. Their failure to do so speaks volumes of their white privilege mentality and positions them on the side of the oppressor in this injustice.
The interview may have been mildly humiliating for the Royal Family, but it placed them in a perfect position to make a defining response.
Prince William’s rather hasty and defensive response only means that the Royal Family lost their golden opportunity to rebrand the monarchy as a modern institution that is relevant and representative of today’s world.
