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Now Harry's own charity attacks him for race jibe
Amar Singh and Paul Waugh12 Jan 2009
THE controversy over Prince Harry's "racist" remarks deepened today as he was criticised by his own charity.
WellChild, a UK charity dedicated to the needs of sick children and their families of which the prince is patron, said his remarks were "unacceptable".
The 24-year-old prince is facing a full Army investigation after a home video made in March 2006 emerged of him using racist language.
He was heard referring to fellow soldier Ahmed Raza Khan (now a captain in the Pakistani army) as "our little Paki friend Ahmed", and telling another soldier he looked "like a raghead" for wearing camouflage netting.
Wellchild's chairman Richard Nunnely said the seriousness of his remarks could not be ignored.
In recent months, the charity has played a key role in the rehabilitation of Prince Harry's public image.
But Mr Nunnely said he could act depending on the outcome of the Ministry of Defence's adjudication: "I will wait for whatever administrative action will be taken by the adjutant general's office before deciding whether this is a matter for our board. I don't think that language is acceptable. I have the closest thing to a Muslim godson who comes from Pakistan."
Mr Nunnely, a former member of the armed forces, added: "I'm not condoning one iota what he said but there will be no knee-jerk reactions Prince Harry is very highly regarded and is wonderful with the children."
Harry, a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals, will be summoned to headquarters at Combermere Barracks in Windsor to explain his remarks.
It is not thought that the adjutant general Lieutenant General Bill Rollo will be formally investigating Prince Harry, but as the Army's personnel chief, he could be brought in to advise how the army should handle the matter.
Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed the prince as a "role model" and said the furore should not overshadow his military record.
Mr Brown added: "I think Prince Harry knows that these comments aren't acceptable. I think he's made an apology. I think it is a genuine apology. I think the sincereness of his apology cannot be doubted.
"Once he's made his apology I think the British people are good enough to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But Captain Khan's family called the prince a "coward" for hiding behind an official spokesman.
Capt Khan's uncle Ifitikar Raja told the Evening Standard: "How can the Prime Minister say Harry is sincere in his apology? He cannot be sure until Harry shows his face to the nation and the public can see the sorrow in his eyes.
"It wasn't just banter, it was cruel and offensive. Harry should be a man and show his face and apologise. Until then, I will not be happy because for all we know he could be in a nightclub by midnight drinking champagne."
Mr Raja, 60, from Croydon, added: "He thinks a few words from the palace will put this right He should go in front of the TV cameras and say that he will never use that word again. He is not some low IQ skinhead from the Seventies, he is a member of the royal family."
MP Keith Vaz said Harry was third in line to the throne - not "an understudy for Bernard Manning".
The Army also came under threat of an inquiry today when the Equalities and Human Rights Commission - Britain's leading anti-racism watchdog - warned it would launch its own probe if it was not satisifed with the response of the Ministry of Defence.
A spokeswoman for the commission said: "We will be asking the MoD to see the evidence, share that evidence with us and their plans for dealing with it."
The Commission, headed by Trevor Phill ips, has the power to order its own investigation if it believes there is a culture of institutional racism.
Reader views (43)
the Royal Family are racist? wow, what a shock...
- ben, london, 17/01/2009 23:48
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Comments can be racist without using any racist vocabulary and vice-versa. Sureley it is the intention that counts and in this case it would appear that it was friendly, private camaradary, no insult and definately no racism intended.
- Francis, Farnborough, England, 14/01/2009 10:44
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Paki was and is a rascist hate term, would Harry have called a black cadet "ni**er"? No, thought not.
Any asian who grew up in the 70's knows that is a rascist term, and we asians do not refer to each others as "paki". He is an idiot who is too much of coward to make an apology himself.
- Harj, London, 14/01/2009 06:32
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When I emigrated to Canada in 1967 I was called a "chirper" and a limey, but it went with the territory but I was just glad to be away from England.
- John W, hamilton canada, 14/01/2009 00:27
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"Paki" is simply an abbriviation of Pakistani. Why is this "racist". I have never heard anyone suggest that speaking of Australians as "Aussies" is racist. can anbody explain the difference to me.
- Jh, London, 13/01/2009 21:16
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If I were James Hewitt then I'd be furious with my son.
- Nj, london, 13/01/2009 11:05
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Oh please, let this matter drop.
- James Wells, Perth, Australia, 13/01/2009 06:39
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And this person is a senior member of our "royal" family. I am utterly ashamed to be English when I think of him. He needs to pay the consequences and his military career should end now. The monarchy is outmoded and should also end - when the queen dies would be appropriate.
- Alf Bennett, London, England., 13/01/2009 02:18
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My dad got called a lot worse for being Scottish in the navy during the 60's/70's on board HMS Ark Royal. This is just stupid, worse it was a while ago and the "person" in question didn't complain.
- Mark, Common Sense, Grown Up Land, 13/01/2009 00:13
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The late Lady Diana would have been ashamed of Prince Harry had she lived to see this day. She was a true friend of the people of Pakistan and one who was widely respected in the country for the love and humility with which she carried out her charity work. We in Pakistan had assumed that Prince Harry would have been better educated and at the very least, would have developed enough tact and appreciation of political correctness to refrain from such racist remarks. I strongly feel that a public apology on TV is due to the people of Pakistan and also to British Pakistanis in Britain. A member of the British royal family must not be allowed to get away with such offensive and unacceptable behaviour that easily.
- Ayesha Salma, Lahore, Pakistan, 12/01/2009 20:56
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T.Brown - A half-decent school-teacher would use this as an opportunity to teach. They would mention the law of unintended consequence. They would point out that not everyone around them is a friend and that more care should be taken even in the most innocent of circumstances. They would point out that two wrongs don't make it right.
They would do what they are supposed to do - educate.
- Rogan, Irving, 12/01/2009 17:44
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Please. This is mild language for troops.
- Catherine, Chicago, USA, 12/01/2009 17:39
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I'm a Pakistani. As a child growing up in the 70's and 80's. The term Paki was always hurtful. It was used as a generic term for all South Asians. Calling someone a Paki was used to intimidate and often a precursor to physical violence. I saw a group of Indian girls set upon by a bunch of girls. They were dragged by their hair, kicked in the face and punched repeatedly. Then there was the Sikh man with a turban having stones and bricks hurled at him whilst being called Paki. I myself have been called a Paki on buses by teenage skinheads. It didn't feel like chummy banter or a term of endearment. Paki is a word of hate. It is not used in the same context as Brit, Aussie, Taffy and so on...
Prince Harry did not make the comment out of malice, that is clear. An apology is enough. Now let's leave him alone. However, it is not acceptable to use the word Paki against anyone from the Indian sub-continent. To say that it is an abbreviation of the word Pakistani is incorrect and ignorant.
- Ss, Richmond, 12/01/2009 17:05
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"Foul mouthed coward"?
What a silly comment. What I heard was standard banter by soldiers, no different than anywhere else (which someone there saw as a bit of an 'earner'). It seems that you want all of the army kicked out of the army, from your comment.
....and the most stupid part of all, "coward" - I won't suggest what nether region part of the body that comment came from, its obvious! Use of that word alone puts the rest of the comment into proper perspective - someone making nasty comments just because they can.
- Rogan, Irving, 12/01/2009 16:41
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If Prince Harry is a role model please can somebody explain what my reaction as a schoolteacher will be when my kids start bullying other kids by calling them Pakkis? Can I still give them a detention or do I accept that as Prince Harry said it it is OK?
- T Brown, Willesden England, 12/01/2009 15:49
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Prince Harry has nothing to apologise for. What he has done is no worse than calling a Frenchman a Frog, a Welshman a Taffy, etc. It's obvious that it was just a nickname, and let's face it, it's not what you say, but how you say it that counts. As someone with a Muslim surname and brown skin, I can say from experience that people can be just as offensive and hurtful, should they choose to be, without using any of these 'naughty words'.
In any case, are the Great British public so naive as to think that the Armed Forces are full of polite, well-mannered people who never swear or make politically incorrect jokes, or do we accept that it's just part of the lifestyle that comes with serving your country.
I believe that the majority of people would be more offended by the fact that this story is considered to be news, and that, as usual, it's the vocal minority getting on their soapboxes trying to promote their own agenda.
People are sick of political correctness. Why should we get offended on behalf of someone who took no offence?
Who wants to live in a country where you're not even free to offend someone if you so choose? Do we really want the Administration to wrap us all up in cotton wool and make sure that we feel all safe and protected from real life?
- A Ali, B'ham, 12/01/2009 15:27
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if one is from sweden they are a swede, which
in effect is a turnip!
- Jimmy Jones, glasgow scotland, 12/01/2009 15:26
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What a silly suggestion. You're talking about real people here, not PC caricatures. Most who want to join the military are not so thin-skinned as the 'what-if' brigade would have them be.
- Rogan, Irving, 12/01/2009 14:49
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Call me "taffy"..........no offence !
- Brian Hughes, wales, 12/01/2009 14:28
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240 muslim British soldiers, are there that many!!!! wow...and how many are decendants from India, Pakistan etc... Prob a handful...
BRING BACK NATIONAL SERVICE and then we can start integrating instead of this society segregating itself to destruction
- Dc, London, 12/01/2009 14:21
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If they're so offended, why has it taken 3 (three!!) years for this to come out?
- Anne, London, England, 12/01/2009 14:14
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If Captain Khan feels strongly about this matter, he should do the honourable thing. Resign the commission he received at Sandhurst and give back the award he received from Her Majesty. Sandhurst should refund him the money he paid to train there. If however, the British taxpayer paid for his training, he would should also do the honourable thing. Back to planet earth now. Is there nothing more important going on to attract the attencion of our politicians? All three party leaders have jumped on the politically correct bandwagon with indecent haste. Does it occur to them that what a silly young cadet did is nothing compared to the damage they cause by pandering to the 'victim' culture? They cause more division and resentment.
- Dbr, London, 12/01/2009 13:58
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"Ask someone what a 'night fighter' is at Sandhurst."-Squeaker, when I was in "the mob" a "night fighter" was a prostitute. I don't think it really made any difference what colour they were!
This whole episode has been blown completely out of proportion.
There are parts of the UK where the term "Brit" IS used with insulting intent, but is anything said or done about it?-No is the answer.
This country is on the verge of self destruction and people are squabbling over trivia like this. Get over yourselves folks!
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 12/01/2009 13:40
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I wonder if he picked that term up from his grandfather?
- Aidan Reid, london, uk, 12/01/2009 13:30
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This proves that Harry isn't suitable for the rank of officer and should be made to serve as a private and make his way up through the ranks like all basic recruits! The Queen does a fine job but it doesn't follow that all her off-spring are of the same intelligence. Harry is a huge argument against the system of monarchy.
- Bryan, Liverpool, UK, 12/01/2009 13:25
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This foul mouthed coward should be given an immediate dishonourable discharge from the Army.
He has brought disgrace upon himself, the Army, his country and the monarchy.
- Harry Lauder, Edinburgh, Scotland, 12/01/2009 13:16
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If anyone is really naive enough to think that the word that has created such hysteria is not common place in the english language they must live in the same sad and deluded world as our Prime Minister. This being the man who appears to think that spending our money bailing out loss making companies is money better spent than arming our servicemen properly or rehabilitating them when injured. If this whole affair is the most important topic that the Press can find to report G** helps us.
- James, Suffolk, 12/01/2009 12:47
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The use of nicknames is prevalent in all organisations and the army is no different.
Ask someone what a 'night fighter' is at Sandhurst. It is just one of the many nicknames peoples get and has no more racism attached to it than Harry's.
- Squeaker, Newmarket UK, 12/01/2009 12:46
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Ah oui! I was going to join your armee, but if ze Prince is going to call me a 'frog', forget eet. My frien' Hans, 'e say no also - ze Prince might call eem a 'Kraut'. And ze Commission for ze Equality would want us to appear on ze trial, and oh la la, zat would be too much of ze 'assle! Non merci, au'voir. Oh, I forgot my frien' who is a 'cockney'. Is zis word allowed to be called by ze Commission for ze Equality?
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK, 12/01/2009 12:42
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Lee of London!
But he IS a coward for diding behind his (alleged) father's press corps.
However I see from your implied racist comment on me that you are no better than Harry.
- Bob Christie, Burntisland, Scotland, 12/01/2009 12:27
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The only thing that will hurt recruitment to the armed services is the MODs failure to provide proper equipment to our young men and women to fight abroad. How many more Coroners inquests are going to criticise the lack of appropriate equipment as the cause of a soldiers death?. This row over Prince Harry is being blown out of all proportion by both conservative and labour politicians who are just trying to outdo each other in the PC blame game. Mr Cameron if you want to know why the Tories are ahead in the opinion polls, but show you lagging well behind Brown as a potential PM, just review your hasty comments about this incident reported in the press over the weekend. You are staring to become a liability rather than a asset to the Conservative party. Your previous PC gaffs include arranging a photographic opportunity of you cycling to work, whilst claiming to be a supporter of 'green' policies, but then it was discovered that your gas guzzling limo was following on behind at 5mph carrying your correspondence, and your 'green' claim by using a house windmill to save energy, but that was erected without the proper planning permission. The next election is there to be lost by the Tories, with your ever increasing and unnecessary proclamations on PC issues the public might just decide that you are not the person to lead the country!!.
- Paul, Banstead, Surrey, 12/01/2009 12:12
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Bob Christie how dare you call him a coward, but being a scot what do you what! I wouldnt call anyone that has been to a frontline a coward, but just like shaun for FRANCE and Juss you are the people that mess this country up not Harry, but then you think your so brave sitting behind a screen a!!
- Lee, London, 12/01/2009 11:45
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How can this hurt the recruitment drive, does anybody seriously think that Muslim families are considering sending their sons off to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq? The 240 Muslim troops should be proud, but let's be honest they are the exception not the rule. I agree that if the cadet invovled was not offended then it's nobody else's business. As for legal options I assume using abbreviations is still legal? This is not a British born person being stereotyped, he actually is from Pakistan!
- Mark, London, 12/01/2009 11:32
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Poor accommodation, poor equipment, poor pay, poor medical facilities, poor compensation for badly wounded. I think these factors might be the main problems affecting recruitment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Jonny, London, 12/01/2009 11:24
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No it won't. Its still a great job for those that really want it.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 12/01/2009 11:23
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what a lot of rubbish,my brother got beaten up in the army but thats how things were,what I want to know is if this boy who is now a captain in the pakistani army was trained in sandhurst as a paying guest or if it was down to the british taxpayer.
- Linda, italy, 12/01/2009 11:21
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What a load of c***. This father is looking for compensation.
- Jenny, san francisco ca ( ex-londoner), 12/01/2009 11:07
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Perhaps not, perhaps it just might have the opposite effect. Not the correct thing to say I know but most rational people have had more than enough of the politically correct attitude extant in this country and the racial card has been played that often now that people have become sick and tired of it. Just the situation required to start a backlash.
- Dennis, Taplow. U.K., 12/01/2009 11:05
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"He is not some low IQ skinhead from the Seventies..."
No, he's a low IQ upper-class moron. Just as offensive. Just as awful for Britain's reputation.
- Shaun, SE France, 12/01/2009 10:56
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Capt. Khan's family are quite correct. By getting a lackey to issue a so-called "apology" on his behalf is an act of cowardice on Harry's part. He should be made to appear on live tv to make an apology himself. Thereafter he should disappear from all public view for a period of time in an act of humiliation and repentance.
- Bob Christie, Burntisland, Scotland, 12/01/2009 10:37
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What an example he has set for our children! Some role model!
- Juss, wilts uk, 12/01/2009 10:35
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Is calling someone a 'Brit' offensive? Surely it is the tone of the word that denotes offense? Is it not possible to use the aparrently acceptable term 'Pakastani' in an offensive and derogatory way?
And isn't this supposed to be a private video? Is it right to invade his privacy? Is every soldier going to be thus censured for such remarks - 'ginger' etc?
Isn't there any real news??
- Adam, UK, 12/01/2009 10:32
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until a comment is made by Ahmed Raza Khan every one else should keep quiet, then from his comment othe opions can be voiced, if this term is then viewed as offencive i take it the PRESS & every other person will no longer use the term BRITS as this must also be offensive
- Ed, london, 12/01/2009 10:12
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