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Call Simon Cowell a sponger? Not me says Prince Philip
Shekhar Bhatia and Sri Carmichael25.03.09
PRINCE PHILIP was engulfed in an unlikely war of words today with celebrity talent show judges Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan over claims he called one of them "a sponger".
Cowell told The Tonight Show, an American chat show broadcast in Britain, that the Duke was rude when he met him after the Royal Variety Show.
The X Factor judge also claimed the Queen "ignored" him.
The Palace rejected the accusations. A spokesman said: "The Duke of Edinburgh categorically did not call Mr Cowell a sponger. He has no reason to. He has said he does not know enough about Mr Cowell to make any sort of comment about him. Mr Cowell may have misheard the Duke, he has a very soft voice."
The spokesman added: "The Queen doesn't ignore people. She has many people to meet after such a show."
But in an extraordinary twist, Piers Morgan, who judges ITV's Britain's Got Talent with Cowell, claimed he heard every word of the exchange while standing next to Cowell in the after-show line-up.
Morgan, who detailed the incident in his serialised diaries, said: "I can categorically say it happened.
"I was standing there with Simon Cowell on my right and (singer) Paul Potts on my left. Prince Philip said 'So you sponge off him, then?' pointing at Potts. He was directing it at both Simon and me, but mainly at Simon.
"It was typical Prince Philip. Confronted by people like me and Simon, he didn't intend to be flattering."
He added that the Queen "didn't seem to know who Simon was" and gave him a cursory handshake before moving on, "which I found highly entertaining".
He joked: "If we all have to trudge off to court, I'm available."
Cowell, 49, told chat show host Jay Leno he met the royal couple backstage in December. "It was actually embarrassing. It is called the Royal Variety Show, so she (the Queen) is in the audience. At the end, if you are involved in it, you have to stand around for hours and then say hello. She ignored me and her husband called me a sponger. That means somebody who makes their money by sponging off other people. It was a bit awkward."
Leno asked: "Was he trying to be insulting?" Cowell replied: "Yes, I think he was trying to be rude. So I just mumbled something and he walked off."
Cowell has become one of the most famous faces on US television with American Idol, which attracts 30 million voters each week.
Reader views (21)
Why is everyone so jealous of Simon Cowell. Yes he takes a cut from the incomes of people he promotes/discovers but what a difference he makes to their lives. Just get over it and let him get on with what he is good at.
Regarding the Royals, they lost everyones respect after the way they treated Diana Princess of Wales. I do not think there are any parents in this country who would have supported the behaviour of prince Charles in his attitude towards this wonderful woman, likewise the Duchess of York but she lives to tell the tale.
- Anon, UK
I have a few comments to make
1) Cowell was known and mentioned by the President of the United States, so hardly unknown.
2) Prince Phillip has always been an embarrasment to the Queen, He also had the cheek to say that Princess Diana and the Duchess of York had embarrassed the Royal Family when he had done far more. Quietly spoken? You can certainly hear him when he is making his gaffs.
3) If these expats are so taken by all that is English why the hell are they not living here?
- E Sullivan, London
How very sad that the Monarch and her husband are obliged to shake hands
with these whingeing C-List talentless types. Who selected them for the Royal Variety Show anyway....?!!!
- Radz, Expat!, Copenhagen , Denmark.
How very sad that the Monarch and her husband are obliged to shake hands
with these whingeing C-List talentless types. Who selected them for the Royal Variety Show anyway....?!!!
- Radz, Expat!, Copenhagen , Denmark.
Good on the prince, love him. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.
shove of you loyalist haters.
- Ebin Donk, angus scotland
Very funny - pot and kettle. Takes one to know one.
- Broomstix, London
All this is doing is confirmed to us two things. 1) Whilst Simon Cowell is successful at what he does, it is nothing less than gutter entertainment which may impress a few but not most, so Simon and his ridiculous ego should just live with it. 2) As for Philip he is the biggest sponger of them all, not far from any any of the rest of the so called royals. Am definitely for a vote, to get rid of all royals.
- Daniel, London
Why did he say you hang around for hours ? I was backstage when McCartney was on some years ago and The Queen Mum came round in no time at all. Prince Philip's remark, if he did make it, seems deadly accurate.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
Simon Cowell earned his money, therefor is worthy of respect. The other fellow did not, in fact I do not think he has earned anything in his life, and, certainly not respect!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.
The Royals are an entire clan of spongers.
- J, London
Robert Phelps - I'd prefer to vote whether we need Simon Cowell. I cast my vote - NO!
- Mcw, London
I somehow doubt this ever happened, Prince Phillip is unlikely to even know who Simon Cowell is.
- Tom, Watford (UK)
bit ironic given that living off other people is exactly what the royals themselves do....
- James, dublin
Two things. One, what exactly does Simon Cowell do? Basically he promotes people with 'talent' and lives off a cut of their earnings; so sponging then. Second, what do you mean 'we', Robert Phelps in, ahem, France?
- Paul, London
I think we should all ignore Simon Cowell then perhaps he might go away!!!
- Pedro, Dubai UAE
Likely Simon Cowell just seeking publicity with the ultimate person(s) to name drop expecially to Americans. However it of course, works for him!
- Thomas, London
not have as rude as Simon is to some of the contestants on his show
- Rae Campbell, Bearsden Scotland
Well, if he did, for once good judgement on Phil's part.
- Brian, Woking
lets put it to a general vote,do we need the "royal"family
- Robert Phelps, bussiere poitevine 87320 france
Now we know who this man thinks he is!
- Gwaddilove, London ENGLAND
Maybe Simon Cowell is so accustomed to public attention that he now expects it from everyone and is miffed that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh don't hold him in such high esteem. He should grow up and accept that, whatever was said, no slight was intended and that, whatever his massive ego may demand, he canot be the centre of everyone's universe.
- Simon, london
