Cliveden House unveils cast iron blackamoor slave statues

The luxury hotel where the Duchess of Sussex stayed the night before she married Prince Harry has been embroiled in a racism spat after it unveiled two blackamoor-style statues.

Cliveden House has put the figurines on display within its grounds after they had been in storage for several decades.

Meghan, who is mixed race, stayed at the five-star resort with her African-American mother Doria Ragland the night before marrying Prince Harry earlier this year.

The cast-iron Blackamoor figurines were popular in the 18th and 19th century, and often depicted African slaves.

Last December, Princess Michael of Kent had to apologise for wearing a blackamoor brooch during a lunch at Buckingham Palace also attended by Meghan.

Royal author Phil Dampier said the artworks were unveiled shortly after the debacle involving Princess Michael of Kent.

He told The Sun: 'Cliveden were lucky enough to play such a lovely role in the wedding so the timing couldn't be worse. It's beggars belief.'

A visitor at the hotel added: 'I think this is highly offensive.

'Cliveden now has an association with Meghan as it's where she stayed before getting married so it's just as inappropriate as the Princess Michael episode.'

A spokesman for the National Trust said the sculptures were part of Cliveden House's collection, and were photographed in the Duke's Garden in 1904.

They had been restored and put back on display at Cliveden House six months ago, but have just been moved back to their garden location.

The National Trust spokesman added: 'Representing the diverse cultural history of the nation sheds light on past cultural attitudes and provides us with contemporary challenges, but it should not mean exercising censorship or shutting down debate.'

MailOnline has contacted Cliveden House for comment.