Prince made ‘racist comments’, claims former MP
FORMER Midland MP and Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said she was left “slack-jawed” by alleged racist comments by the Duke of York.
Ms Smith, who formerly represented Redditch, said Prince Andrew made the comments about Arab people during a state dinner.
The claims come after the duke’s Newsnight interview in which he discussed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and denied sleeping with one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre.
Speaking on the LBC election podcast she hosts with Iain Dale, Ms Smith said Prince Andrew’s remarks to her “involved a comment about camels” and were “as worse as you could imagine”.
Ms Smith said: “I met him several times, including once at a state banquet where, after dinner, I and my husband and another Labour cabinet minister had a drink with him.
“I have to say the conversation left us slack-jawed with the things that he felt it was appropriate to say.”
The former Labour politician made the comments in Sunday’s podcast, and said she did not feel comfortable repeating what the duke said.
“It was a state dinner for the Saudi royal family and he made racist comments about Arabs that were unbelievable,” she added.
Describing Andrew as “the worst end of the royal family”, Ms Smith said: “The fact he thought we might find these amusing was sort of a terrible situation to be in.
“I don’t think he’s very bright, I don’t think he really understands the way in which he behaves.”
She also said she feels “ashamed” that she did not challenge the Queen’s son on his comments.
Responding to the claims, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “HRH has undertaken a considerable amount of work in the Middle East over a period of years and has many friends from the region.
“He does not tolerate racism any form.”
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