‘He really enjoyed my chutneys’

IT’S MORE than a desire to ensure and see that you create challenges for young people to succeed in life.

I think that is a desire, because Prince Philip himself came from a very troubled background, because he didn’t have the best childhood as a prince would have had.

And that must have taught him so many lessons of trying to invigorate young minds into being independent, into being successful, into charting a path towards their personal growth and successful future.

I put a photograph on my Instagram account of Prince Philip talking to my father in 1950, and it’s gone viral, and I’m getting asked all sorts of questions. My dad met him in 1950 and until my dad passed away, that was a moment of glory for him.

The duke spent five minutes talking to an Indian. He didn’t have to, so he always made time for people. I think that makes a huge difference.

Prince Philip must be remembered for all the positive things he did. He may have made a few wisecracks that people always latch on to. But, there was a sense of humour. People always distort the humour.

It is witty to be able to talk sometimes as a royal, to be able to talk like a common man, and I think he tried to bridge that gap as much as he could, because Her Majesty the Queen cannot do that. She has to maintain her stature all the time. But he could afford to do that every now and again.

Let me give you an example of his humility. I had taken some of my pickles for the chef of the palace. Later on, Prince Philip went to the chef ’s office and he ate a couple of the chutneys. He told him, ‘please thank your friend, Cyrus, I enjoyed those chutneys.’ Why would he tell that person to get in touch with me and tell me he

liked them?