BUCKINGHAM PALACE has failed to meet its staff diversity goal, as the proportion of employees from ethnic minority backgrounds remains stagnant at 9.7 per cent, according to reports.
The original target was 10 per cent by the end of 2022. The King's household has now introduced a revised objective of achieving 14 per cent of all employees by 2025, reported The Mirror.
The final diversity figure for last year (2021-22) was 9.7 per cent – with an unaudited figure of 9.6 per cent printed in last year’s Sovereign Grant accounts, and 8.5 per cent reported the previous year, reports said.
On the other hand, the household of the Prince and Princess of Wales has achieved a higher rate of staff diversity, with 16.3 per cent of employees coming from an ethnic minority background. This figure at Kensington Palace has increased from 13.6 per cent compared to the previous year.
The 2021 Census data revealed that approximately 18 per cent of the population belongs to a black, Asian, mixed, or other ethnic group.
“I recognise we are not where we would like to be and we are committed to making progress in this area. And hence why we’ve raised the target to 14% having got close to our 10% figure," a Buckingham Palace official is reported to have said.
“We now need to set out the scale of our ambition to really make headway in this space.”
According to the Palace, just over 12 per cent of senior household roles or non-executive directors on the Lord Chamberlain’s Committee were from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The spokesman stated that there is a strong determination to boost the progress in this area and added that the change will begin with leadership.
The percentage of ethnic minority employees in royal households was publicly disclosed for the first time in 2021 after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's allegations of racism within the royal family during their interview with Oprah Winfrey.
A statement released by the late Queen stated that the raised concerns would be addressed privately within the family, acknowledging that there may be differences in individual recollections.
The Palace had already changed its diversity strategy in early 2020, specifically highlighting the significance of inclusion.
In November, the royal household encountered a significant public backlash when Lady Susan Hussey, the late Queen's lady in waiting, continuously inquired about the true origin of a black British charity leader at a Palace reception.
Following her resignation from the household, Lady Susan subsequently met with Ngozi Fulani, the founder of the charity Sistah Space, to offer her apologies.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)