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| Prince's apology for racist term | Prince's apology for racist term |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Prince Harry has apologised for using offensive language to describe a Pakistani member of his army platoon. | Prince Harry has apologised for using offensive language to describe a Pakistani member of his army platoon. |
| The News of the World has published video in which the prince calls one of his then Sandhurst colleagues a "Paki" in commentary he made over filming. | The News of the World has published video in which the prince calls one of his then Sandhurst colleagues a "Paki" in commentary he made over filming. |
| St James's Palace said he had used the term three years ago as a nickname about a friend and without any malice. | St James's Palace said he had used the term three years ago as a nickname about a friend and without any malice. |
| In a separate incident highlighted by the paper, the prince is heard calling another officer cadet a "raghead". | In a separate incident highlighted by the paper, the prince is heard calling another officer cadet a "raghead". |
| The prince had to apologise in 2005 for wearing a swastika armband to a party, which offended many Jewish people. | The prince had to apologise in 2005 for wearing a swastika armband to a party, which offended many Jewish people. |
| The video obtained by the News of the World shows Harry while still an officer cadet at Sandhurst military academy. | The video obtained by the News of the World shows Harry while still an officer cadet at Sandhurst military academy. |
| It was filmed in front of other cadets at an airport departure lounge as they waited for a flight to Cyprus to go on manoeuvres. | It was filmed in front of other cadets at an airport departure lounge as they waited for a flight to Cyprus to go on manoeuvres. |
| The newspaper said the prince had called the soldier "our little Paki friend". | The newspaper said the prince had called the soldier "our little Paki friend". |
| 'Extremely sorry' | 'Extremely sorry' |
| Meanwhile, during a faked call to the Queen, as the Commander in Chief of the British Army, the prince says: "Granny I've got to go, send my love to the Corgis and Grandpa." | Meanwhile, during a faked call to the Queen, as the Commander in Chief of the British Army, the prince says: "Granny I've got to go, send my love to the Corgis and Grandpa." |
| He finishes saying: "I've got to go, got to go, bye. God Save You ... yeah, that's great."Advertisement | |
| BBC Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt describes the content of the video | |
| A statement from St James's Palace, with regards the term "Paki", said: "Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause. | A statement from St James's Palace, with regards the term "Paki", said: "Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause. |
| "However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon. | "However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon. |
| "There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend." | "There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend." |
| The statement continued: "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taleban or Iraqi insurgent." | The statement continued: "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taleban or Iraqi insurgent." |
| A man told BBC Radio Five Live the cadet concerned was his nephew, Ahmed Raza Khan, from Pakistan, who served with Prince Harry at Sandhurst for one year as a Commonwealth cadet. Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces MOD spokeswoman class="" href="/1/hi/uk/3763132.stm">Profile: Prince Harry | |
| Iftikhar Raja said his nephew, now a captain in the Pakistani army, would have risen above such terms and had not mentioned the incident to his family. | Iftikhar Raja said his nephew, now a captain in the Pakistani army, would have risen above such terms and had not mentioned the incident to his family. |
| Mr Raja said: "At no time he told us that he was called Paki or he was a good friend of Prince Harry, I mean, although they served together that is true. | Mr Raja said: "At no time he told us that he was called Paki or he was a good friend of Prince Harry, I mean, although they served together that is true. |
| "But I myself am a British subject, I am proud to be British and if someone called me Pakistani I would be proud to be called that, but Paki is definitely a derogatory remark." | "But I myself am a British subject, I am proud to be British and if someone called me Pakistani I would be proud to be called that, but Paki is definitely a derogatory remark." |
| He added: "We expect better from our Royal Family on whom we spend millions and millions of pounds for training and schooling." | He added: "We expect better from our Royal Family on whom we spend millions and millions of pounds for training and schooling." |
| Captain Ahmed Raza Khan graduated with Harry from Sandhurst in 2006 receiving a special award from the Queen for being the best overseas officer cadet. | Captain Ahmed Raza Khan graduated with Harry from Sandhurst in 2006 receiving a special award from the Queen for being the best overseas officer cadet. |
| 'Disturbing allegations' | 'Disturbing allegations' |
| BBC Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt said this was an "embarrassing episode" for the prince, and it was because comments made in private had become public that a statement had been issued. | BBC Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt said this was an "embarrassing episode" for the prince, and it was because comments made in private had become public that a statement had been issued. |
| He added St James's Palace had been at pains to place the prince's words in context. | He added St James's Palace had been at pains to place the prince's words in context. |
| Prince Harry's aides insisted Captain Ahmed and Harry "were friends, members of a close knit platoon who used nicknames and the prince was not being malicious", he said. | Prince Harry's aides insisted Captain Ahmed and Harry "were friends, members of a close knit platoon who used nicknames and the prince was not being malicious", he said. |
| "However, whatever the context, royal officials must know the damage has been done, " said our correspondent. | "However, whatever the context, royal officials must know the damage has been done, " said our correspondent. |
| A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Neither the Army nor the Armed Forces tolerates inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form. | A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Neither the Army nor the Armed Forces tolerates inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form. |
| "The Army takes all allegations of inappropriate behaviour very seriously and all substantive allegations are investigated. | "The Army takes all allegations of inappropriate behaviour very seriously and all substantive allegations are investigated. |
| "We are not aware of any complaint having been made by the individual. Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces." | "We are not aware of any complaint having been made by the individual. Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces." |
| A spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "These appear to be disturbing allegations and we will be asking the MoD to see the evidence, share that evidence with us and their plans for dealing with it. | A spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "These appear to be disturbing allegations and we will be asking the MoD to see the evidence, share that evidence with us and their plans for dealing with it. |
| "We will then consider what further action might be necessary." | "We will then consider what further action might be necessary." |
| But Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine and a biographer of Prince Harry and Prince William, said there was a danger of over-reaction. | But Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine and a biographer of Prince Harry and Prince William, said there was a danger of over-reaction. |
| She said: "I think it was a private video, he was talking about a friend of his, they were having fun and they were calling each other nicknames and I think it's been taken out of context. | She said: "I think it was a private video, he was talking about a friend of his, they were having fun and they were calling each other nicknames and I think it's been taken out of context. |
| "Yes, it would be very offensive if Harry went around calling people Pakis in a racist way but this was not meant, you know, it was meant more of a nickname. | "Yes, it would be very offensive if Harry went around calling people Pakis in a racist way but this was not meant, you know, it was meant more of a nickname. |
| "I mean, Harry's mates call him Ginge or Ginger - that could be equally offensive to people with red hair." | "I mean, Harry's mates call him Ginge or Ginger - that could be equally offensive to people with red hair." |
| What is your reaction to Prince Harry's behaviour? Send us your comments using the form below. | What is your reaction to Prince Harry's behaviour? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |