Buckingham Palace considers the tsar of diversity after the interview with Meghan Markle

Buckingham Palace is considering appointing an official to serve as the tsar of diversity after the disturbing interview of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Oprah Winfrey, according to several press reports.

A source said that the palace has been working for some time to improve the diversity of the royal households, but little progress has been made.

Diversity is a “problem that has been taken very seriously in all royal households,” the source told CNN and the British media.

“We have policies, procedures and programs in place, but we have not seen the progress we would like and we accept more to do,” the source added. “The work to do this has been going on for some time and comes with the full support of the family.”

Appointing a tsar of diversity for spearhead efforts is on the table, but it is still too early to announce any “firm plans”, the source explained. “We listen and learn to get this right,” the source added.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex complained about racist coverage in the British press to Winfrey in an interview earlier this month. But in the most disturbing revelation, they said that a member of the royal family spoke to them about “worries” about how dark their son’s skin would be. The family member was not named, but Winfrey later clarified that it was not Queen Elizabeth or Prince Phillip.

Buckingham Palace is already scheduled to review diversity policies in all royal households, including Clarence House and Kensington Palace, the BBC reported.

The Guardian reported that the royal assistants were to take part in a process of “listening and learning” on inclusion in the coming weeks. It is supposed to involve people and business leaders who share thoughts on how the monarchy can improve the representation of people of color, members of the LGBTQ + community, and people with disabilities.

In a statement on behalf of the Queen following the Winfrey interview, Buckingham Palace said the allegations of racism made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “worrying”, adding that they would be “taken very seriously” and “addressed by the family in privately. ”

After the interview, Prince William told a reporter that “we are not a racist family.”