Who is Lady Susan Hussey?

ROYAL FAMILY aide Lady Susan Hussey has been accused of asking a black guest at Buckingham Palace: "Where are you really from?"

The friend of the late Queen has resigned after questioning Ngozi Fulani's nationality.

The Buckingham Palace guest said she was horrified when Lady Susan approached her, moved her hair to see her name badge and asked: "Where do your people come from?"

The employee repeatedly questioned what part of Africa she was from and when she first came to the UK, Ngozi claims.

Here's everything we know about Lady Susan Hussey.

Who is Susan Hussey?

Lady Susan Hussey was born on May 1, 1939, and is part of the close inner circle of the Royal Family.

The 83-year-old is also known as the Number One Head Girl among royal officials and was a dear friend of Elizabeth II, being at her side for the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960.

Prince William also knows Lady Susan as Godmother and she attended his confirmation in 1997.

She was the only person chosen to stand by the Queen's side amid Covid restrictions at the late Prince Philip's funeral.

The trusted Lady was bestowed with a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order - the highest rank personally granted by the sovereign.

She has also been present at unique moments in history - such as on the Spirit of Chartwell barge with the Queen and other members of the royal family for the Diamond Jubilee river pageant on the Thames in 2012.

She is the youngest daughter of the 12th Earl of Waldegrave and sister of William Waldgrave - a former Tory Cabinet minister.

Her husband is Marmaduke Hussey, who was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC from 1986 to 1996.

Her daughter Lady Katharine Brooke is a close friend of the Queen Consort, and has just been appointed one of Camilla's six new Queen's Companions.

Is Susan Hussey a working member of the Royal Family?

The Queen's 'lady-in-waiting' was a member of the royal household.

She was the Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II and also received the Queen Elizabeth II Version of the Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal with 30-, 40-, 50- and 60-year bars.

On September 19 this year she attended the Queen's funeral along side other members of the Royal Family

However, she resigned from the royal household on November 30 2022 after allegations of racism when she quizzed a black guest about her nationality.

Ngozi, who was born in Britain, attended the event on behalf of domestic abuse charity Sistah Space to mark the UN's 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

She said she was horrified when Lady Susan approached her, moved her hair to see her name badge and asked: "Where do your people come from?"

The employee repeatedly questioned what part of Africa she was from and when she first came to the UK, Ngozi claims.

She said the experience, just 10 minutes after arriving, left her "insulted" with "mixed feelings" about the royal visit.

Buckingham Palace this morning confirmed the staffer involved had stepped aside after an investigation.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full details.

Was Susan Hussey the Queen's lady-in-waiting?  

Yes, Lady Susan was considered a lady-in-waiting, and was chosen to be kept on by King Charles after his mother's death.

She was part of the 'HMS Bubble' during lockdown, which only included about 20 people, and was one of Elizabeth's longest serving aids.

Her title was rebranded as Lady of the Household and was joined by Mary Morrison and Dame Annabel Whitehead.

They had a variety of duties including attending to private and personal matters for the Queen and handling her correspondence.

They also assisted the Queen on official engagements, from handing her money to being passed the bouquets of flowers presented to her.