‘We’re over that racial rubbish’: Mixed-race royal baby 'will not suffer racism in the UK'
While the birth of a new royal baby is celebrated across the country, a top equalities expert has said that the tot will not suffer racism his life.
Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Commission for Racial Equality and current Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Equality Standard, believes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, who was today named as Archie, will grow up in a much more tolerant country.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Phillips said the mixed-race baby is part of a family “that lives the reality of a multicultural world daily”.
He said: “So I can’t see that anyone in your family is going to be in the least bit bothered about your colour.
“More likely, you’ll be an excuse for people to talk rot about your relatives. When your Mum and Dad got married, there was a lot of silliness written about how uncomfortable your father’s family were at having a black preacher and a gospel choir at their nuptials.
“This is a family that lives the reality of a multicultural world daily. It’s their job: to interact with people of different backgrounds to themselves on behalf of the nation, and to treat them all with respect. I have to tell you, they are pretty good at it.”
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Speaking of the wider British public, Mr Phillips added: “Outside of the looney tunes on Twitter and elsewhere, I’d say we’re over that racial rubbish.
“So unless you become a professional footballer, I don’t think you’re going to experience much open racial hostility.
“And that’s nothing to do with your family. It’s because I think you’re going to grow up in a generation that sees your mixed-race heritage as something that makes you interesting rather than inferior.”
Harry and Meghan have been enjoying the experience of being new parents at their Frogmore Cottage home near the Queen's Windsor Castle residence.
Family members spoke about the joy of the new arrival with the Duke of Cambridge saying on Tuesday he was "obviously thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and obviously looking forward to seeing them in the next few days when things have quietened down”.
He added: "I'm very pleased and glad to welcome my own brother into the sleep deprivation society that is parenting.”
Harry was at his wife's side during the birth on Monday and he later confessed he had only had a few hours' sleep, suggesting Meghan had spent much of the night in labour.
The Prince of Wales has also spoken publicly for the first time about the birth, saying he was "delighted" at arrival of his latest grandchild.
The infant is believed to be the first mixed-race child born to a senior member of the royal family in centuries and is a reflection of modern Britain with its culturally diverse population.