Prince Philip in his own ‘gaffe-prone’ words

Ghastly truth from the ‘deadly’ duke on his royal retirement

PATRON, president and member of more than 780 organisations, Britain’s Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is to step down from public life later this year.

Over the years, the 95-yearold duke developed a reputation for being one of the most gaffe-prone members of the royal family. Here are some of the most memorable, compiled by The Independent:

1. “Ghastly.” Prince Philip’s opinion of Beijing, during a 1986 tour of China.

2. “Deaf ? If you’re near there, no wonder you are deaf.” Said to a group of deaf children standing near a Caribbean steel drum band in 2000.

3. “It looks like the kind of thing my daughter would bring back from her school art lessons.” On being shown “primitive” Ethiopian art in 1965.

4. “You managed not to get eaten then?” To a British student who had trekked in Papua New Guinea, during an official visit in 1998.

5. “Who do you sponge off ?” To the volunteers for an Asian women’s group at a London community centre.

6. “You look like you’re ready for bed!” To the president of Nigeria who was dressed in traditional robes.

7. “It looks as though it was put in by an Indian” of a fuse box during a tour of a Scottish factory in 1999. He later clarified his comment: “I meant to say cowboys. I just got my cowboys and Indians mixed up.”

8. “What do you gargle with – pebbles?” To Tom Jones, after the Royal Variety Performance, 1969.

9. “Do you know they have eating dogs for the anorexic now?” To wheelchair- bound Susan Edwards, and her guide dog Natalie in 2002.

10. “There’s a lot of your family in tonight.” After glancing at business chief Atul Patel’s name badge at a 2009 reception for 400 influential British Indians.

11. “You ARE a woman, aren’t you?” To a woman in Kenya in 1984.

12. “And what exotic part of the world do you come from?” Asked in 1999 of Tory politician Lord Taylor of Warwick, whose parents are Jamaican. He replied: “Birmingham.”

13. “I wish he’d turn the microphone off !” – Of Elton John’s performance at the 73rd Royal Variety Show, 2001.

14. “Where’s the Southern Comfort?” On being presented with a hamper of southern goods by the US ambassador in 1999.

15. “Can you tell the difference between them?” On being told by President Barack Obama that he’d had breakfast with the leaders of the UK, China and Russia.

16. “That’s a nice tie... Do you have any knickers in that material?” Discussing the tartan designed for the Papal visit with then-Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie last year.

17. “Tolerance is the one essential ingredient ... You can take it from me that the queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.” Advice for a successful marriage in 1997.

18. “I never see any home cooking – all I get is fancy stuff.” Commiserating about the standard of Buckingham Palace cuisine in 1962.

19. “I don’t think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing.” Dismissing claims that those who sell slaughtered meat have greater moral authority than those who participate in blood sports, in 1988.

20. “If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she isn’t interested.” Of his daughter, Princess Anne.

21. “The only active sport, which I follow, is polo – and most of the work’s done by the pony!” 1965

22. “It looks like a tart’s bedroom.” On seeing plans for the Duke and then Duchess of York’s house.

23. “I’d much rather have stayed in the Navy, frankly.” When asked what he felt about his life in 1992.

24. “You’re not wearing mink knickers, are you?” Philip charms fashion writer Serena French at a World Wildlife Fund gathering in 1993. – The Independent

PICTURE: REUTERS Prince Philip is retiring from public life later this year.