*Sticks head above parapet*
On the surface it does seems like an interrogation, but, we do only have one half of the story and the the Palace aid in question has no opportunity to defend what she said so we can only surmise her intent. The elderly 'posh' can sound very blunt.
I think this is another situation where context and tone are important. Rightly or wrongly I often ask people where they are from as part of casual conversation, I hope I do this in a nice way. Why do I ask? Several reasons really, it helps get people to talk a little about themselves (which I have always been told is generally a good thing to try and do), it may be somewhere where I have been or experienced or know something about and gives us a reference point of discussion, or maybe I know nothing about and am keen to hear more, a starter for 10 if you like. I'm also very curious about other people's culture/beliefs/national backgrounds etc. knowing something about where they come from helps open that discussion. I hope I have never offended anyone by asking. I get frequently asked the same as I travel...once people (men in particular) know I'm from England the next topic is usually football though....
I'm not knowingly selective, it's a regular gambit - it might be somebody with a west-midlands accent, or eastern European, Middle east, or American mid-west....
Usually I end-up having open conversations with random people and learning something to boot.
Am hoping that's not wrong....
