Queen supports Black Lives Matter, says senior royal representative

The Queen and the Royal Family support the Black Lives Matter movement, a senior representative of Buckingham Palace has said.

Sir Ken Olisa, the first black Lord-Lieutenant for London, told Channel 4 that he had “discussed the whole issue of race” with the royal household, particularly in the last 12 months after George Floyd‘s murder.

“It’s a hot conversation topic,” he said.

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“The question is what more can we do to bind society to remove these barriers.”

He said the royals “care passionately about making this one nation bound by the same values”.

Asked if the palace supports Black Lives Matter, Sir Ken said: “The answer is easily yes.”

Speaking as part of a new programme called Black to Front, which has an all-black presenting and reporting team, the royal insider said the Queen also asked him whether she should visit Grenfell Tower in 2017 amid fears she would not be warmly received.

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He said he told her to go to the site of the fire that killed 72 people.

“I remember thinking as it all happened, it was quite scary, we didn’t know whether she would be booed or have things thrown at her etc and when she got out of the car all these people applauded,” he added.

The Black Lives Matter movement began as a campaign calling for a response to racism and violence and reached global prominence in the form of protests following George Floyd’s killing.

It has been criticised by the likes of Home Secretary Priti Patel, who described last year’s protests in the UK as “dreadful” and said she did not agree with the gesture of taking the knee.

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The Royal Family has previously faced accusations of racism – most notably from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in an interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year.

Meghan said an unnamed royal, who was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh, raised concerns about how dark her son Archie’s skin would be when he was born.

The couple also suggested the first mixed-race great-grandchild of the Queen was denied security protection and the title of prince because of racism.

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The Queen later issued a statement saying race issues brought up in the interview were “concerning” and were being “taken very seriously”, but added that “some recollections may vary”.

Buckingham Palace has also set a target to increase the number of staff from ethnically diverse communities from 8.5% to 10% by 2022 after admitting it is “not where it would like to be”.

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