Queen Elizabeth II banned “coloured immigrants or foreigner” from serving in Buckingham Palace according to the recent discovery. They were not allowed to work for the Royal household until the 1960s. This discovery might sensationalize the debate over royal family and race. It also throws some light on how the Queen and her household didn’t pay heed to the laws that prevent race and sex discrimination. The records show that people from ethnic minority backgrounds being employed in the 1990s before that there were no records on racial backgrounds of employees.
‘Ban for Colored Staff’ till the 1960s: The Negotiation
It was revealed that the Queen and the Royal household banned hiring coloured worker for the office till 1960 but they negotiated on the exemption of laws on race. The negotiation was done in the 1970s era about the laws on race and sex discrimination.
In 1968 Queen’s financial manager informed the government about the hiring policy of coloured workers in the Palace. This information was unearthed at the National Archives. The manager said to the government that, “it was not, in fact, the practice to appoint coloured immigrants or foreigners” for clerical roles in the Royal household.
Apart from this, they were permitted to work as domestic workers. Adding to this it was said that,” Coloured applicants were only considered for ordinary domestic posts.”
The actual truth was basically unclear about when the policy of banning coloured workers ended. The records claim that people from an ethnic minority background were employed in the 1990s. Moreover, the Palace did not keep any records on racial background prior to this.
About the exemptions
In the 1960s a law was introduced by the government ministers that made it illegal to refuse to employ any individual focusing on their race and ethnicity. The exemptions made it possible for women. The exemption from the law was brought into action in the 1970s. It so happened, at that time the politician had implemented a series of racial and sexual equality laws that would eradicate discrimination from the society.
It is quite clear that perhaps the Queen has exempted from those equality laws for more than four decades.
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