World

Prince Harry Apologizes to Pakistani Officer

by Rob Walker | January 13, 2009 at 06:19 am

236 views | 12 Recommendations | 4 comments

Prince Harry has called to apologize his friend Ahmed Raza Khan after a home video he made in 2006 came to light. In the video, Harry introduces his fellow cadet as 'our little Paki friend' and said that Khan looked like a 'rag-head'.

He evidently made the call arrangements via a mutual friend to 'clear the air'. Khan has so far not made any complaint regarding the remarks.

Prince Harry, who was being lambasted by the press and UK government officials, was expected to get a serious dressing down from his commanding officer.

Harry, whose 2006 video has caused a storm in Britain, telephoned Ahmed Raza Khan — his former fellow — cadet at Sandhurst military school — in Pakistan to "clear the air", The Sun reported.

Fresh off the heels of his son's row over the 'Paki' comment, Prince Charles is taking flack for supposedly calling his friend 'Sooty' at a private club.

Prince Charles and his sons have been referring to Kolin Dhillon by the nickname for years when they met at Cirencester Polo club. Dhillon insists he was not offended by it.

He said in a short statement: "I have to say that you know you have arrived when you acquire a nickname.

"I enjoy being called 'Sooty' by my friends, who I am sure universally use the name as a term of affection with no offence meant or felt.

Prince Charles' office denied Tuesday that he or his two sons are racist, after reports that the heir to the British throne has long called an Asian friend by the nickname "Sooty."

The denial from Clarence House came days after a video emerged in which Prince Harry, Charles's younger son, was heard referring to an army colleague of South Asian origin as a "Paki."

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Uwe Paschen

at 06:41 on January 13th, 2009

I am not sure that his apology will suffice any longer. For starter it is not his first outrageous comment or act and secondly he is not off a social rank that can be allowed such gaffes even if their may have unintentional, wish I doubt.

mudricky

at 06:55 on January 13th, 2009

He has apologised but most, like myself aren't intrested. As Paschen said he's done it before. I'm not shocked and he will, I'm sure make gaffs like this in the future.

israeli.agent

at 11:24 on January 13th, 2009

I don't understand why this fuss about.

When an American is called "yankee" , he / she does not take much offence.

When an Aussie calls a Brit "pommie" he does not take much offence.

When a French is called "Frog"..well, he does not like it, but does not cry foul or yell out "race".

then why a pakistani gets offended if a collegue calls him a paki? Are all pakistanis ashamed of being one ?

I think it is just a cheap gimmick. Otherwise how else a "Ahmed Raza Khan" can get his name published all over the international media.

Agent.

poor oligarch (not verified)

at 14:29 on January 13th, 2009

paki has together with wog has long been a term of racist abuse here, in the same way that sambo was (like nigger in the US), and like yid to abuse jews, etc...

But why has the story surfaced right now, its not new news? A lot of conspiracy theorists would say that these 'Royals' stories are pulled out from the bottom drawer when there's a perceived need to keep real news from the front pages of the newspapers. This story should run until the Obama inauguration takes, and will leave a lot less people thinking about the war on Gaza.