Royal Family Under Fire As Queen Camilla's Official Coronation Portrait Features Alleged Blackamoor Statues
By Fiyin Olowokandi on May 9, 2023 at 5:15 PM EDT
The Royal Family is again facing racism allegations as fans spot disturbing detail in Queen Camilla's official coronation portrait.
Members of the British monarchy have been enveloped in various speculations following their perceived beef with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Sussexes relocated to the US over the clan's discriminatory treatment.
Although the matter has been subdued over the years, sparks against the family reignited following King Charles III's ceremony on May 6. In Buckingham Palace's latest update, eagle-eyed fans noticed decorative antiques that appeared to be depicting Black people.
The Internet Loses It As Culturally Insensitive Artworks Seemingly Appear In Queen Camilla's Coronation Picture
Days after King Charles and Queen Camilla's momentous occasion, the official royal family's Instagram account updated its page with a picture of Her Majesty's coronation portrait.
The image captured the former Duchess of Cornwall in her crown and ceremonial garments.
The honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Medical Service posed in front of her royal seat in a lavishly decorated Buckingham Palace room. The interior featured several gold details, antiques, and a red carpet covering the entire floor.
So #PrinceWilliam says “We’re very much not a racist family.”
I think that looking at this official photograph of #QueenCamilla and remembering the old maxim of “[a] picture is worth a thousand words” shows us that, despite his statement, the #BritishRoyalFamily with its/1 https://t.co/qKKLSlZ8XL
— Deesa (Nasty Woman/Brazen Hussy/Resister) 🌊🌊 (@DeesaRoberts) May 8, 2023
Although the snap looked harmless, closer inspection revealed a collection of seemingly off-putting decorative artworks on the fireplace's mantle.
The display pieces, which appeared to be candelabras, featured sculpted figures painted in black with their backs resting on the candle holder's foundation.
After discovering these antiques, fans took to Twitter in outrage as they believed these objects were "blackamoor statues." Calling out the royal family for allegedly showing their racist colors, a disappointed individual linked the picture to a former scandal.
Queen Camilla taking her official portrait Infront of blackamoor statues, reminds me of when Princess Michael wore one to meet Meghan.
This was a choice. pic.twitter.com/0oXsjH3rJc
— Alexis 🎖️MNOSL (@ArchewellBaby) May 8, 2023
"Queen Camilla taking her official portrait in Infront of blackamoor statues reminds me of when Princess Michael wore one to meet Meghan. This was a choice," the person wrote, referencing the 2017 drama between the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Kent.
A fellow conspiracy theorist claimed the perceived racist artworks were intentionally showcased in the Queen Consort's portrait. The social media user's message read:
"Queen Camilla’s official portrait, taken in front of a collection of blackamoor statues. The Queen is surrounded by staff, working on one thing - her image. There are no accidents. As we say in Alabama, 'You can take the girl out of the trailer park…'"
More cries of racism rang through the platform, with a third condemning the former duchess with hashtags. "#QueenCamilla arrogantly posing in front of racist #Blackamoor statues #RoyalRacism," the fan declared.
He wasn't welcome. 'Queen' Camilla also decided to take her photo in front of blackamoor statues.
"We are very much not a racist family" Meghan did not stand a chance. #royal pic.twitter.com/ixijVn9BYZ
— Faithfully Radical - Medieval Curtsey (@FaithfulRadical) May 8, 2023
A fourth person tweeted that despite Prince William's "We're very much not a racist family" statement, the royal family continued to prove their racism by surrounding themselves with "racist symbols."
Referencing the Black activist Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu's since-deleted tweet, the individual supported the lawyer's claims that "#HarryAndMeghan made the JOINT DECISION to free themselves and their family" from the royal clan's clutches.
The political commentator retracted her statements against the monarchy after discovering the artworks might have been royal relics. "I stand corrected if these are not Blackamoor statues behind Camilla as I thought but of Weeping Women," the activist(wrote, sharing a screenshot from a royal website that stated the candelabra was present in Buckingham Palace.
Please take a look at the background (surrounded) 😳#RacistRoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/fB29vvCKEB
— Leonor (@Leonor622107751) May 8, 2023
The candle holder's design looked similar to the objects seen in the Queen's portrait. However, the image proved the candelabra's black sculpted figures were not of African heritage but partly draped females.
Nonetheless, Mos-Shogbamimu reaffirmed her stance against blackamoor art in the royal family by writing: "Bottom line, if there are Blackamoor items or anything of historical racist depiction in the Palaces it should be removed, placed in a museum so history doesn't repeat itself."
All You Need To Know About Blackamoor Art & Its Ties To The Royal Family
As shared by The Sun, the term "blackamoor" refers to "a person with dark skin who comes from Africa or whose ancestors came from Africa." It became a form of art thanks to the Europeans, who created jewelry and sculptures that usually depicted Black people as servants.
Queen Camilla’s official portrait, taken in front of a collection of blackamoor statues. The Queen is surrounded by staff, working on one thing - her image. There are no accidents. As we say in Alabama, “You can take the girl out of the trailer park…” https://t.co/vmBk8HIDTN
— Dr Charles Kriel (@charleskriel) May 8, 2023
The decorative art, famous from the 16th to 19th century, lost appeal because it showcased the social disparity between Europe and Africa. Although blackamoor became a symbol of racism, it has not been completely forgotten.
In 2017, Princess Michael of Kent came under fire after wearing a blackamoor brooch to the royal family's Christmas lunch. Her controversial fashion statement gained attention because of Markle's status as a biracial woman with a black mother and a white father.
Although the Princess apologized for" 'offending," the incident divided fans about the British monarchy, Prince Harry seemingly fanned the flames in the Netflix documentary "Harry and Meghan," addressing an "unconscious bias" within the royal family.