World

Prince Harry to be trained in diversity

by Yuliya Talmazan | February 12, 2009 at 09:56 am

118 views | 7 Recommendations | 2 comments

After video surfaced in which Prince Harry was caught making racist remarks about a few of his fellow combatants, the 24-year-old prince who served in Afghanistan was put into a diversity and equality training course. His Royal Highness was ordered to take a course to enhance his awareness of diversity by his commanders. This is no special 'punishment' for Harry as diversity training is standard in modern military training. Such courses are said to often include making presentations and role-playing.

The 24-year-old prince will attend a course designed to press home how offensive racist language is. Last month a newspaper released video of the prince using racial epithets about two fellow soldiers in 2006. The prince's office says Harry is sorry and was dealt with according to normal army disciplinary procedures.

The Ministry of Defence would not give details of the training. “The Army has concluded its considerations in relation to this case,” a spokesman said.

A spokesman for Clarence House said: “Prince Harry has said sorry for his remarks and has been subjected to normal army disciplinary procedures. The matter is now closed.”

The military's racial awareness training is carried out by a part of the Defence Academy known as dblearning. The Joint Equality and Diversity Training Centre in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, set up in 1998, offers residential workshops of up to five days. Officers and other personnel can also attend non-residential workshops of up to three days.

It is not known which of the courses Harry will be sent on. The Ministry of Defence also provides an internet learning course in racial awareness called “Clued Up?”.

The courses are believed to be similar to those offered to other public bodies, which include presentations, discussions and role-playing activities. They intend to make attendees aware of other points of view and reconsider their own prejudices.