Royal Family Member Wears Racist 'Blackamoor' Jewelry To Meet Meghan Markle

UPDATE:

After backlash from this event surfaced, Princess Michael's rep told TMZ that she was "very sorry and distressed" about it. The spokesperson added that Princess Michael wore the brooch numerous times before without malice, but will now retire it because she's learned her lesson. Original story below. 

Eyebrows were raised at the Queen's pre-Christmas lunch event because of a controversial piece of jewelry a royal member of the family wore to meet Prince Harry's fiancée, Meghan Markle. 

On Wednesday (Dec. 20), the bride-to-be, who is biracial with a black mother and white father, attended Queen Elizabeth’s annual lunch at Buckingham Palace. This was the first time that Markle met with the extended family of her future husband. 

Though the event was supposed to be a fun, festive occasion, one person decided to be a damper on things. Princess Micheal of Kent, who's the wife of one of the Queen's cousins, wore a blackamoor brooch on the left of her outfit. Take a look at it below. 

According to Daily Mail: "Blackamoor jewelry and art was extremely popular in the 18th Century. But they are now considered to be highly racially insensitive and the word blackamoor has been condemned as a term of abuse for anyone with a dark skin."

The outlet continues: "The African figure is typically depicted with a turban, dressed in lavish jewels and are commonly fixed in positions of servitude—such as footmen or waiters... While they became an art form in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in Italy, many believe the figures suggest 'racial conquest.'"

This lunch event wouldn't be the first time that Princess Michael was accused of racism. Back in 2004, she reportedly told black diners at a restaurant to “go back to the colonies.” Then, to prove she wasn't racist, Princess Michael said: “I even pretended years ago to be an African, a half-caste African, but because of my light eyes I did not get away with it, but I dyed my hair black.”

The royal and Meghan Markle reportedly spoke to one another at the Queen's pre-Christmas lunch. We wonder how that conversation went when Markle noticed the brooch? We do know that Prince Harry is madly in love with Markle and isn't going to tolerate such disrespect aimed at his future bride -- as he shouldn't.

Photo: Getty Images