Howard: Harry should apologise personally for Nazi outfit
The Leader of the Opposition, Michael Howard, has called on Prince Harry to apologise personally for dressing up in a Nazi costume for a fancy dress party.
Photographs of Prince Harry dressed in a German desert uniform and bearing a prominent swastika appear on the front of this morning’s Sun newspaper.
According to the paper, they were taken at a fancy dress party on Saturday night hosted by Richard Meade, the triple Olympic gold medallist and close friend of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles.
The party was themed “colonials and natives” and the two princes attended along with hundreds of others.
Prince William though wore a more appropriate lion costume.
Clarence House, the Prince of Wales’ press office, moved quickly to apologise to the Jewish community for the 20-year-old’s poor taste and judgement.
In a statement from Clarence House, the prince said: “I am very sorry if I have caused any offence or embarrassment to anyone. It was a poor choice of costume and I apologise.”
But, Mr Howard, whose grandmother died at Auschwitz, said that many people would be deeply offended and disappointed by the prince’s action.
He told the Today programme that: “It might be appropriate to tell us himself just how contrite he is.”
Many commentators are also asking why the Royal household allowed Harry to leave the palace wearing such a costume and what implication it has for his position at the prestigious Sandhurst military academy.
The prince is due to begin at Sandhurst this year.
Former Armed Forces Minister Doug Henderson said that: “After the revelations this evening I don’t think this young man is suitable for Sandhurst.
“If it was anyone else the application wouldn’t be considered. It should be withdrawn immediately.”
Dr Stephen Smith, chair designate of the Holocaust Memorial Day, sought to draw a line under the incident.
He said: Prince Harry has apologised for his ill-judged actions. We need to move on to ensure that the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, which will be marked by Holocaust Memorial Day 2005, is commemorated in the dignified fashion which survivors, their families and liberators deserve, and which is a tribute to the memory of all those that were murdered.”
But, Dr Smith added: “This incident serves as another reminder, if one were needed, of the importance for Holocaust education particularly amongst the young.”
