News & Politics - Prince Harry apologizes for Nazi costume

WalkingOnSunshine · 01-13-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Harry says sorry for Nazi costume

Prince Harry has apologised for wearing a swastika armband to a friend's fancy dress party.

Clarence House issued a statement in response to a photograph published on the front page of the Sun newspaper under the headline, "Harry the Nazi".

It read: "Prince Harry has apologised for any offence or embarrassment he has caused. He realises it was a poor choice of costume."

But there have been calls for the prince to make his own public apology.

Tory leader Michael Howard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Prince Harry should appear in person, rather than talk through a spokesman.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the costume was in "bad taste".

But they were "pleased" he had apologised for the incident.

"It was clearly in bad taste, especially in the run-up to holocaust memorial day on the 27th of this month, which the Royal Family will be taking a leading role in commemorating."

The picture was taken at the weekend at a friend's birthday party in Wiltshire, which had the fancy dress theme "colonial and native".

Prince Harry, 20, appears to be wearing a German desert uniform and a swastika armband. He is also holding a drink and cigarette.

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, said: "The fact that the palace has issued an apology indicates that this was a mistake by the prince.

"But having been given, the apology should now be accepted."

But the Queen's former assistant press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, said: "This young man has got to come up front and be seen in person making an apology."

Former armed forces minister Doug Henderson MP said the picture showed the prince was "not suitable" for the prestigious royal military academy Sandhurst, which he is due to attend later this year.

"If it was anyone else, the application wouldn't be considered. It should be withdrawn immediately," said the Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North.

The prince, who is third in line to the throne, hit the headlines last year after a scuffle with a photographer at a nightclub.

The Sun reported that Prince William was also at the party - dressed as a lion.

Link here to see pic, if you haven't already - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4170083.stm

He needs to make an appearance and apologize directly not through a spoke person.

alli balli · 01-13-2005, 01:56 PM

What a moron. Who dresses up like a Nazi for a costume party!? Especially someone who's so often in the public eye?

galela · 01-13-2005, 02:05 PM

i guess he wants to rebel & i'm totally cool with his being the royal rebel & everything. if i were a member of that family, i'd probably rebel against it, too.
but this was wayyyy out of line.

what really bothers me, too, is that 50% of the english population thought this incident was harmless.

Sparrowhawk · 01-13-2005, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alli balli

What a moron. Who dresses up like a Nazi for a costume party!? Especially someone who's so often in the public eye?

Bah, I find it hard to get worked up over a costume. I don't believe he meant offense, even though it was in really bad taste.

He apologized, leave him with his shame.

Citizen Sarah · 01-13-2005, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galela

i guess he wants to rebel & i'm totally cool with his being the royal rebel & everything. if i were a member of that family, i'd probably rebel against it, too.
but this was wayyyy out of line.

what really bothers me, too, is that 50% of the english population thought this incident was harmless.

50% of sun readers... believe me not representative of the english population at all!

What a dickhead (Prince Harry).

galela · 01-13-2005, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citizen Sarah

50% of sun readers... believe me not representative of the english population at all!

oy. the sun did this poll? thanks for clearing this up. this explains a lot.

In Fair Verona · 01-13-2005, 04:31 PM

And I thought he was getting the best education money could afford...

*Lauren · 01-13-2005, 05:22 PM

Sadly, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. The inbreeding hasn't helped that family.

**TheAngel** · 01-13-2005, 07:31 PM

What bothers me is that these photographs were taken at a private party and then sold to the tabloids. This boy deserves his privacy and while it was in very bad taste, we all have done things that we would rather not have displayed across the newspaper. I'm sure he realizes that it was a stupid mistake but none of you can say that you haven't done something stupid at some point in your life. Leave the boy alone.

**sum1** · 01-13-2005, 07:56 PM

Britain shoud abolish the monarchy.

-Kelly- · 01-13-2005, 07:58 PM

Stupid boy for wearing it.

LittleMilkJug · 01-14-2005, 12:22 AM

He is just a normal 20 year old idiot. The Sun is worse, getting all sanctimonious inbetween the who shagged who stories and the endless photos of boobies.

xallyx · 01-14-2005, 01:34 AM

I understand why people are offended, and rightly so, but...I guess I can kind of see why he didn't think it was a problem. Because for me, as a student in school today who does learn about WWII and the Nazis, even though I 'get' it...it doesn't seem real to me? It's like watching terrible things happen on the news on the other side of the world, and it seeming more like...a movie...or something of that sort. For me, part of the thing I have to overcome when learning about history is that the politics were real and that...stuff like WWII are relavent today because people who experienced those times are still around. ...It's the ignorance of youth, and not understanding your place in time. WWII was only a little over half a century ago...but to me it could have been one million years ago.

I'm not saying what he did wasn't wrong...because being part of the Royal family and having those political connections, he should think more carefully...but I just get why it probably didn't seem like an issue to him initially.

I think before the papers and critics attack, they have to understand this. But then again...they want a story, they want money...

Lexis · 01-14-2005, 02:13 AM

I'm a student too but that doesn't mean that I would - by any stretch of the imagination - not understand how offensive what he did was.

He's been educated at Eton, one of the best schools in the country. He has travelled widely and met some of the most intelligent, influential people in the world. His own Great Uncle was a Nazi sympathiser and actually met Hitler. Harry and his family attend ceremoies mourning British war dead every November.

He knew it was offensive, he knew what it signified and he did it anyway.

Its ironic - in yesterday's Guardian they had a feature about Holocaust survivors who were 16, 17 when they were deported to Auschwitz. The horror of what they endured - what they still remember all these years later....Prince Harry is a disgrace.

mh67511 · 01-14-2005, 02:49 AM

I'm sorry but 20 year olds do not just go around wearing swastikas because "that's what 20 year olds do." There is no excuse. Why anyone who knows what that symbol stands for and would wear it anyways is beyond me.
I'm surprised his friends didn't say something. I would be disgusted if someone I knew came to a party I was having wearing a swastika and would tell them to take it off.


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