Mark's history of the Hollywood publicists - how the Fixers, Fakers and Star Makers Created the Celebrity Industry.
Prince Harry and the Racist Remarks
January 12th, 2009 | 
Author: How disappointing to read about Prince Harry’s use of racist language in the press over the weekend, not so much because it’s Harry – it’s no surprise, really, that he’s prone to calling people ‘Paki’ and ‘Raghead’ in fun, given that his idea of fun has seen him dressing in Nazi uniform for parties – but because such language, behaviour and petty racism is still deemed worthy, at best, of only a mild rebuke by the Fourth Estate and by a worrying percentage of the public, as, by and large, the reactions to the News of the World story on their website proves.
Clarence House’s PR, of course, spun the story in the slickest way imaginable, by swiftly leaking the story to all the papers, to take the sting out of the News of the World’s outraged exclusive – a textbook case of lessening the impact of Harry’s unthinking tongue. It’s disappointing, though, that the Fourth Estate’s reaction, which on the whole amounts to little more than a slap on the ankle, tacitly gives permission for such language to remain in use. Surely they should be far more critical?
It’s possible, of course, that the Royal PR machine behind the Princes is just a little too good, but I wonder, in these recessionary times, if it’s not as much about the media keeping Clarence House sweet so they don’t lose access to William and Harry, whose antics, wholesome or otherwise, help keep their circulation up. The way the story has played out certainly suggests that the media were happy to collude with the damage limitation, because of the inside track they were given at the News of the World’s expense.
It’s disappointing that Prince Harry is not the role model he’s been asked to be. But then Harry is something of a blast from the past – he’s the product of a privileged lifestyle that is prone to be blunt of speech, sometimes to the point of rudeness or petty racism, unthinking of the consequences or the people he insults. It is to be hoped that Prince Harry will learn what it means to set an example, will learn the art of diplomacy, but it is equally possible that he will mutate into his grandfather if left unchecked and become another just chip off the block of institutionalized racism at the heart of the establishment.
At a time when tension in the Middle East is running dangerously high and all sides are digging in and whooping up new reasons for continuing the violence, however, surely the revelation that the third person in line to the throne is perfectly happy to bandy about divisive language in the name of fun should have provoked a sterner dressing down from the press and public.
Unfortunately, at the moment, it seems as if Prince Harry is dripping oil on the fire when he should be aiming it at troubled waters. Let’s hope Clarence House’s formidable PR team can point him in the right direction. I wait with interest to see what demonstration or stunt they will concoct in the near future to further limit the damage.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Imagine how disappointed his father must (hopefully be). All that cash on the best education Eton can provide & his kid still turns out to be a fucking idiot.
No your a f’n idiot you should realize that everyone says stuff like that at one point. It’s just bad luck that cameras follow him eveywhere he goes.
The armed forces hierarchy have allowed the use of words like ‘raghead’ to demonize the enemy and officers like Harry are encouraged to do this.
During my time in the first Gulf conflict when I spoke with officers whilst training them in the gym, many worried that the lower ranks needed to feel hatred towards the enemy and stupidly didn’t consider it racist behavior. The problem is when some come back from the Gulf conflict they don’t realize this, but luckily there are many who I served with would never use the word ‘paki’.
The worry is officers like Harry are in charge and when lower ranks are caught abusing prisoners the officers who have stirred up a hornet’s nest of hatred are never brought to account.
Stupid remark though it was, Harry is in the army, in an army setting with army colleagues, who probably speak like that to each other all the time…what he has said has been said in the context of that relationship.
The guys in the army need to be closely knit and the way they speak to each other is part of that…yes no-one wants to hear that kind of language, but I think people need to think about the context a little bit.
Most members of the army speak like that and no-one bats an eye lid…yes he is a royal but give the guy a break – he is still a young 21 (or whatever) year old growing into a man…he will make mistakes.
Steve: “just bad luck” yes it really is old chap, one should be able to use insulting racist remarks if one wishes! Damn journalists pointing cameras at a Prince, asking questions all the time, blasted oiks should know their place.
As for “everyone says stuff like that at one point” . I never have, my friends don’t, my family don’t, but I suppose you are referring to yourself.
Maybe I should have pointed out that in this instance it was the idiot in question carrying the camera, not the media. Bad luck eh, darn bad luck.
PS Steve, it’s “you are” or “you’re” not “your”.
The British military has been the last bastion of Institutionalised racism for many many years. I remember being with recruits who were referred to as 10.30 and mid-night in reference to the darkness /lightness of their skin. When you find yourself deep within the institution of the services, whatever you think about such comments it is very hard, believe me, to do anything about it. It is wrong it is abhorrent but it is there and will remain so for some years to come. For many in the military this way of talking is standard talk. Read any of the military adventure stories by Andy McNab or Chris Ryan, watch Dads Army and you will see that this language and attitude is quite “normal” within these institutions.
Soldiers who participate in this kind of abuse will tell you it dose not mean anything but they are not on the receiving end of the abuse.
Mr Wales said this not thinking it would ever come to light, he was amongst like minded men and thought it absolutely normal. Its a problem that exists throughout the British Institutions, that this was said by a member of the Monarchy is the reason everyone is talking about it. If it was said by Private Thomas Tank, then it would be ignored by almost everyone and that is the real problem. This is an unreal situation with words spoken by an unreal person and is now becoming an unreal situation. If we reacted in the same way in the “real world” then perhaps and even then only perhaps there might be some change.
you know, it’s a little tiring to hear people brushing off derogatory ‘colonial’ terms to be just ‘jest and harmless fun’…
there was nothing f****** funny about the colonies and i come from one.
harry’s equally over hyped papa and that ’sooty’ pr spin is another good example of old colonial establishment shit.
oi, kolin dhillon, multi-millionaire you may be, but it’s not an affectionate term you dolt! THEY gave you that name in 19f******75. you did not tell them to call you that did you!?!
what do you call charles? bleach skin?? why not, it could be an affectionate term if you’re THAT f****** close knit!! they’re calling you that and laughing at you, you idiot!
what did they promise you – business deals if you’d agree to this stupid story??