I expect it from the press – stir up controversy is what they do best. But you would think members of the royal family would pull together for Harry and rise above this sort of nonsense. That’s suppose to be what they do best.
Has Princess Michael responded to the reports? It’s almost so awful that I think there must be some sort of explanation that is escaping us all. I have read that there is a difference between American and European Blackamoor art and jewelry. The European version often depicts the Moors as noblemen rather than the subservient depictions found in pieces crafted in America. If that is true then it sheds a somewhat different light on the matter.
Well I don’t think one gets a pass by being European. It certainly seems to be an issue in the UK, as all the tabloids there reported on it, although The Times seems silent. Additionally, Dolce & Gabanna got a bit of flack several years ago when they had pieces in their collection. So as the token European here, I will say it’s offensive.
When I first saw it I thought it was a Christmas gesture, that is, one of the three wise men. Maybe it matched her outfit, who knows. If it was offensive, wouldn’t her husband or someone else have noticed it and tried to convince her not to wear it? I did see that her spokespeople had ‘no comment’, which seems unusual in this situation. IOW, if no offense was intended, wouldn’t that have been said instead of ‘no comment’.
I don’t believe her. I think she was trying to express her displeasure in this manner. It was her coat, so I’m sure she took that off before seeing everyone at the party…they wouldn’t know what she wore until we all did.
Her nickname is “Princess Pushy” because she’s been obnoxious for years. Her lame excuse of “it was a gift and I’ve worn it before…” is sad. I really hope that she’s barred from attending other events and that Harry told her off.
She’s married to the Queen’s cousin so will be invited but will be given the cold shoulder by the younger set of royals.
A misstep thinking that she is important or anyone in the royal family cares what she thinks.
Harry has made some major gaffes in his life, like wearing a Nazi uniform to a Halloween party thinking it would be funny. He may be more forgiving having been there himself.
That is one bizarre and rather tasteless piece of jewelry, but it looks Indian to me, not African. You almost expect it to start talking. Why do people see racism in everything? It’s just ugly.
@TooOld4School, It IS racist, considering that the British Empire was not exactly egalitarian in its treatment and attitudes toward Indians during its many years ruling the subcontinent. Of course, Britain also maintained several colonies in Africa. I may be wrong about this, but I think the British traditionally referred to both Indians and Africans as black. Without doubt, they did treat both as inferior and subservient to whites. The origins of that antique brooch are of that era. Would any of us wear a brooch depicting an enslaved person of the 18th or 19th century in America and creditably claim it is not racist to do so? Even if the wearer of such an item doesn’t feel she’s doing so for racist reasons, the very fact that she feels her OWN preferences override the feelings of those who would feel hurt about such a thing is unkind (and racist ) in and of itself.
Dress protocol of the royal family is strict. I do believe that everything worn to such as event is given a lot of deliberation. I don’t think it was an accident that she wore it. I hope she was reprimanded in no uncertain terms by the queen herself (and by William and Harry.)
I consider myself to be “woke,” but this piece of jewelry looked like a quite beautiful depiction of a richly dressed king or prince to me. Honestly, the examples of “blackamoor jewelry” depicted are mostly people in serving roles, not like the bejeweled aristocrat of the brooch.
Clearly, not ALL depictions of Africans are racist, right?
Obviously, I must be missing something. I don’t know anything about the history of this woman.
Harry was much younger when he wore that Nazi uniform and he did appear to be properly chagrined when he realized how offensive it was. I think there is a difference between a relatively young kid who essentially grew up motherless and a mature woman who should know better. By the way, I am Jewish and completely get the whole Nazi horror, but I am willing to cut slack for a young person the FIRST time, and it had better be the only time. This Princess Pushy is different, she has a history of offensive behavior.
@Consolation, I actually agree with you that the brooch is aesthetically beautiful and would have some historical value (in a museum.) I think the issue is wearing anything on your body that depicts another human being of another race than you that quite clearly denotes that person as “exotic” or “other.” (Maybe, as the mother of a child adopted from China I’m sensitive to this kind of “exotic” imagery and how demeaning it can feel.) To me, WEARING an item like that on your person also kind of implies that you “own” they symbolized person in some way (don’t know if that’s true, just my gut feeling.) I Also don’t know if the brooch depicts someone in a servile occupation or a wealthy man…(certain servant/slaves in India were sometimes quite bedecked.) But I don’t think the ruling British colonists ever considered even the wealthiest/most powerful in India to be their social equals and did everything to strip or minimize Indians’ power. (Read about the Gandhi era sometime…) If you consider that the current British Royals’ main job these days is PR for Britain, it’s terribly insensitive or hostile (and terrible PR) to show up at the Queen’s luncheon wearing a symbol of the country’s colonial history. It’s even more egregious at a luncheon introducing a future member of the family who is a person of color. Even if Princess Michael is just oblivious (which I doubt) it’s not acceptable.
I read that when Princess Michael was once called out for a racist incident, her reply was a surprised “I’m not a racist, in fact, I think Africans are adorable.” Think about that.
@inthegarden , Indians were not enslaved but colonized, in fact, Britain eliminated slavery in the early 19th century. Britain had colonies in Africa too, such as Kenya, and while they were not exactly benevolent rulers, they were nowhere near as excessive as the Dutch, Spanish, French etc. A slave is clearly not depicted in the jewelry either ; the face actually looks rather patrician and regal. So I still don’t see racism anymore than depicting an occidental face would be racism when worn by a person of color.
Note that people from all over the commonwealth still migrate to England.
^Princess Pushy has a checkered past with race controversy and a Nazi pedigree. The first biracial Duchess to be ever and she wear that. She couldn’t have erred in the side of caution.
