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Prince's racist term sparks anger | Prince's racist term sparks anger |
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Prince Harry's racist remark about a Pakistani member of his army platoon has prompted widespread criticism. | Prince Harry's racist remark about a Pakistani member of his army platoon has prompted widespread criticism. |
The prince issued an apology after the News of the World published a video diary in which he calls one of his then Sandhurst colleagues a "Paki". | The prince issued an apology after the News of the World published a video diary in which he calls one of his then Sandhurst colleagues a "Paki". |
An Army spokesperson said it took the allegations "very seriously" and were investigating. | An Army spokesperson said it took the allegations "very seriously" and were investigating. |
Cabinet minister John Denham said it was "offensive" and the Ramadhan Foundation called the prince a "thug". | Cabinet minister John Denham said it was "offensive" and the Ramadhan Foundation called the prince a "thug". |
St James's Palace said he had used the term about a friend and without malice. | St James's Palace said he had used the term about a friend and without malice. |
In a statement the Army said: "The Army does not tolerate inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form," a spokesperson for the force added. | In a statement the Army said: "The Army does not tolerate inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form," a spokesperson for the force added. |
"All substantive allegations are investigated. This specific case will be dealt with in line with normal Army procedures." | "All substantive allegations are investigated. This specific case will be dealt with in line with normal Army procedures." |
'Unfortunate timing' | 'Unfortunate timing' |
The prince filmed parts of the video and in another clip, he is heard calling another cadet a "raghead". | The prince filmed parts of the video and in another clip, he is heard calling another cadet a "raghead". |
He had to apologise in 2005 for wearing a swastika armband to a party, which offended many Jewish people. | He 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. |
Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces MOD spokeswoman Profile: Prince HarryReaction to prince's racist termPrince's apology for racist comment | Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces MOD spokeswoman Profile: Prince HarryReaction to prince's racist termPrince's apology for racist comment |
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, who is third in line to the throne, had called the soldier "our little Paki friend". | The newspaper said the prince, who is third in line to the throne, had called the soldier "our little Paki friend". |
BBC royal correspondent Daniela Relph said this was an extremely embarrassing episode for the prince and the Royal Family. | BBC royal correspondent Daniela Relph said this was an extremely embarrassing episode for the prince and the Royal Family. |
She said the emergence of the three-year-old video was "unfortunate timing" for Harry, whose image had greatly improved since he served in Afghanistan last year. | She said the emergence of the three-year-old video was "unfortunate timing" for Harry, whose image had greatly improved since he served in Afghanistan last year. |
Prince Harry and Ahmed Raza Khan, bottom, at Sandhurst in 2006 | Prince Harry and Ahmed Raza Khan, bottom, at Sandhurst in 2006 |
"That was a real step up for him, a real sense of maturity that people could see," she said. | "That was a real step up for him, a real sense of maturity that people could see," she said. |
'Absolutely disgusting' | 'Absolutely disgusting' |
Politicians and Muslim groups are among those to have condemned the prince's remarks. | Politicians and Muslim groups are among those to have condemned the prince's remarks. |
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the words would have caused "considerable offence", while Tory leader David Cameron said it was "a completely unacceptable thing to say". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the words would have caused "considerable offence", while Tory leader David Cameron said it was "a completely unacceptable thing to say". |
Aki Nawaz, musician and political activist, said: "It's absolutely disgusting and I think he should be dismissed from the MoD. We don't accept these things, we've had to live with this for 40 years." | Aki Nawaz, musician and political activist, said: "It's absolutely disgusting and I think he should be dismissed from the MoD. We don't accept these things, we've had to live with this for 40 years." |
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BBC Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt describes the content of the video | 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. | 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. |
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' |
The Army has been trying to recruit soldiers from ethnic minority backgrounds as these are currently under-represented in the services. | The Army has been trying to recruit soldiers from ethnic minority backgrounds as these are currently under-represented in the services. |
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." |