- A new report published by The Guardian claims "coloured immigrants or foreigners" were banned from serving in clerical roles in the royal household until at least the late 1960s.
- Buckingham Palace has responded in a statement saying: "Claims based on a second-hand account of conversations from over 50 years ago should not be used to draw or infer conclusions about modern-day events or operations."
- The report, from unearthed documents from the government's National Archives, comes three months after accusations made by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry against the institution.
In a report published by The Guardian, newly discovered documents from the government's National Archives reveals a damning ban on ethnic minorities from roles within office.
The report suggests "coloured immigrants or foreigners" were banned from serving in clerical roles in the royal household until at least the late 1960s; they were allegedly only allowed to work as domestic servants.
Further, the report indicates that in the 1970s, Buckingham Palace negotiated with government officials to include clauses in racial and sexual equality laws that would exempt them from laws that prevent race and sex discrimination, adding that its employees are also not allowed to sue for alleged discrimination at work.
Buckingham Palace has since released a statement on the report, telling E! News: "Claims based on a second-hand account of conversations from over 50 years ago should not be used to draw or infer conclusions about modern-day events or operations. The principles of Crown Application and Crown Consent are long-established and widely known."
They add: "The Royal Household and the Sovereign comply with the provisions of the Equality Act, in principle and in practice. This is reflected in the diversity, inclusion and dignity at work policies, procedures and practises within the Royal Household. Any complaints that might be raised under the Act follow a formal process that provides a means of hearing and remedying any complaint."
The report comes three months after Meghan Markle, a biracial woman, and husband, Prince Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. They detailed what life was like within the institution, also mentioning that members of the royal family expressed concerns about their son Archie's skin colour before he was born.