Well, he might be a LITTLE late.
Posted on 01/14/2005 11:11:56 AM PST by jb6
LONDON (AFP) - Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, rejected demands he make further apologies for having dressed as a Nazi at a costume party, after photographs of him sparked an international outcry.
AFP/Getty Images Photo
AFP Slideshow: Prince Harry's Nazi Costume Criticized
Michael Howard, leader of Britain's main opposition Conservative Party, was among several prominent people at home and abroad to demand that Harry go beyond his written statement and appear in person to apologize for the costume.
A royal family spokesman said "nothing more is needed" from the 20-year-old as his aunt Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, urged the media to back off in its criticism.
"We feel that Harry gave a full and public apology Wednesday as soon as it became clear that the photos could cause pain to people," said a spokesman for Clarence House, the office of Harry's father Prince Charles.
When Thursday's edition of The Sun newspaper hit the newsstands late Wednesday with a front-page photograph of Harry in a Nazi costume, Clarence House released a written statement of apology attributed to Harry.
"I am sorry if I caused any offence or embarrassment to anyone," said Harry, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. "It was a poor choice of costume and I apologise."
The Sun said Prince Charles was also angry at his elder son William because he was with Harry when he chose the costume.
But Clarence House called "inaccurate" reports in Friday's edition of The Sun that Prince Charles ordered Harry and his brother William to make a private visit with Jewish charities to the former Nazi death camp at Auschwitz in Poland.
"That's not something that we're looking at at the moment," the spokesman said.
The royal family said Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II (news - web sites)'s youngest son and seventh in line to the throne, would attend the Auschwitz ceremony, as had been planned before the furore erupted.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw would now attend the ceremony, upgrading the delegation previously led by minister of state for Europe, Denis MacShane, but the Foreign Office said the decision was "not in response to Prince Harry."
Clarence House said it was nonetheless looking at various invitations from Jewish and non-Jewish groups "to effectively do some sort of ... engagement in the future, or some education in the future" involving Harry.
A source close to the royal family also told AFP that the Jewish and non-Jewish groups which have been in contact with the royal family had not demanded that Harry make a public appearance to apologize.
Conservative leader Michael Howard, who is Jewish and had family members perish at Auschwitz, told BBC radio on Thursday that "I think it might be appropriate for him to tell us himself just how contrite he now is."
Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the US-based Simon Wiesenthal Centre, said Harry ought to go to Auschwitz for the 60th anniversary commemorations later this month.
In a poll by Totallyjewish.com, 84 percent of respondents in Britain said Harry should be sent on an educational trip to Auschwitz.
The furore showed little sign of abating as it drew protests from Jewish groups and politicians in Europe and Israel, as well as a roasting from the British and international media.
The press in Germany, where it is illegal to wear Nazi insignia, was stunned by the photographs.
Die Welt said "this is a scandal, not a slip by an insensitive prince who, as is well-known, is not exactly regarded as an intellectual giant of his generation."
The mass market Bild newspaper wondered what his late mother, Princess Diana, would have made of her youngest son's behaviour.
The Duchess of York was a virtual lone voice in defending Harry.
"I want someone to stand up for him and say he is a very good man, and I'm that person," Ferguson told BBC Radio.
no kidding.......if I had to apologize for every dumb ass thing I did when I was 20, I'd still be at it
John Kerry has been dressed up as a U.S. senator for 20 years and not a peep from the liberal media, what gives?
A Stuart prince would nae have dressed like a Goose Steppin' hun.
Well, he might be a LITTLE late.
Hang in there, Harry!
Agreed, but as the story says, he's not particularly swift. I also believe the UK media(big ol'liberals) is on a bit of a safari as it were, they hate the royals and seek to tear them down when given the chance.
This whole uproar is ridiculous. His costume was a goof on the Nazis, not a show of support. I saw a dozen people dressed as Osama Bin Laden last Halloween. Should I inform the PC police?
Uh, Mel Brooks.
Methinks the Royal gene pool could use a little chlorine.
You bet.You need to have the right gene to get away with that.
Answer: It is to first define a subject such as a word or sign as politically incorrect. Having done that successfully,the next move- the ultimate is to allow those who one chooses, to use THAT WORD, or THAT SIGN. Having done that, in the Alice In Wonderland world of political correctness, one can say this- "Words mean just what I choose them to mean.
Sorry to off load this homily. In the words of an old song, " I can see clearly now...."
I agree. Don't let them play you like a marionette. Doesn't work. Like blackmail, the demands never end. Trent Lott.
Not at this time they shouldn't... You can't let the leftists dictate.
Stewart.
Since nothing is objectively correct or incorrect, there is only one kind of correctness... that is the correctness of the Liberal Internationalizt Speech Protocol (L.I.S.P)
Violators will be shot with a pink pistol.
I would love to see Johnny Cochrane brought in to defend the Prince. Johnny would have the rented uniform hand washed. He would then get the er' Arry lad, to try on the uniform- over his clothes. "If, in the uniform he cannot fit- you must aquit". LOL
Don't mention Prince Harry. I mentioned him once, but I think I got away with it.
Royals are supposed to hire someone to play the Fool, not give birth to them and raise them.
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