Prince Harry race row soldier's Croydon uncle condemns Paki slurs

1:09pm Monday 12th January 2009

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The uncle of the soldier at the centre of a Royal race row has condemned Prince Harry's racial slurs.

Iftikhar Raja, an uncle of Captain Ahmed Raza Khan, has said how he was “deeply offended” by comments made by Prince Harry in 2006.

In the video Prince Harry is seen wandering through an airport departure lounge littered with sleeping soldiers. After a few comments the camera is turned on Captain Khan at which point the Prince remarks: "Ah our little 'Paki' friend Ahmed."

Iftikhar Raja, from Upper Norwood, 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.

"They should have had more respect for each other.

"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."

Despite happening almost three years ago it is not the first time that the Prince has been in trouble for racism. In January 2005 the Prince was criticised for wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress. He was pictured in the uniform wearing a Nazi armband, smoking and drinking.

Last night, St James's Palace issued a public apology for the latest incident, saying: "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. There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend."