Domestic abuse charity 'forced' to 'temporarily cease' many operations due to safety fears after palace racism row

The charity of the domestic abuse campaigner who was asked where she "really came from" at Buckingham Palace has had to suspend operations due to safety concerns.

Founder of Sistah Space, Ngozi Fulani, said the organisation, which supports women of African and Caribbean heritage who have been affected by domestic and sexual abuse, has been "forced to temporarily cease" many of its operations after she spoke out about her treatment by Lady Susan Hussey.

After repeatedly challenging the British noblewoman when she said she was British, Ms Fulani said she had suffered "horrific abuse" on social media.

In a statement posted to the charity's Instagram page on Friday night, Sistah Space said: "Thank you for the continued support and messages.

"Unfortunately recent events meant that we were forced to temporarily cease many of our operations to ensure the safety of our service users and our team.

"We are overwhelmed by the amount of support and encouragement and look forward to fully reinstating our services as soon as safely possible."

Lady Susan, the Prince of Wales's 83-year-old godmother, resigned from the household and apologised after she repeatedly challenged Ms Fulani at the Queen Consort's reception highlighting violence against women and girls.

Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, Ms Fulani said the royal also touched her hair during the encounter, an action she described as a "no-no".

The Sistah Space founder said: "I was stood next to two other women - black women - and she (Lady Susan) just made a beeline for me and she took my locks and moved it out of the way so that she could see my name badge."

In comments to Sky News, Ms Fulani described the interaction as a "violation" adding in another interview that she thought the comments were down to racism, not Lady Susan's age.

"I've heard so many suggestions it's about her age and stuff like that and I think that's a kind of a disrespect about ageism," she said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"Are we saying that because of your age you can't be racist or you can't be inappropriate?

"If you invite people to an event, as I said, against domestic abuse, and there are people there from different demographics, I don't see the relevance of whether I'm British or not British. You're trying to make me unwelcome in my own space."