General Chat

This has been an interesting discussion, but I still think that with Prince Harry being such a public figure, it was in poor taste. If it were anything to do with me I'd have accepted his apology, but I doubt many Germans would. We in Britain get adverse comments about Colonialism, they get them about Nazis. There were news reports not very long ago about how fed up people in Germany are with what they see as the British harping on about Nazis, World Wars, goose-stepping, etc, and we discussed here on the Board a German newspaper's suggestion that our Queen should apologise for German civilian deaths during WWII. Now, after all that fuss seems to have died down, the Queen must have been highly embarrassed when her own Grandson appeared to be starting up all that bad feeling again. Most people alive in Germany today had nothing to do with those wars - they were born since 1945 and I can understand their taking offence, even though I personally loved 'Allo, 'Allo and, as a WWII machine-gunner, my father must have done a lot of Germans a lot of harm. Yes, Prince Harry should be allowed to have his fun in peace, but he knows very well that the media are always hanging around him, just waiting to catch him out. His brother is cleverer at avoiding them and Harry would fare better if he were more discreet. I hope he learns as he gets older, as his life in the public eye has, and will, never be easy. CB >|<

I'm not asking for blood! My point is that a deed can alter how we see someone and that an apology can't always wipe out the deed. But I think Joy has a point in that a personal public apology would be a helpful step. I can't remember her name but someone on the news last night said that she thought Harry should make a visit to Auchwitz - I agree - if many of Harry's age group are unaware of the importance and atrocities of the Holocaust it would help raise awareness and perhaps educate people - and that's something I imagine his mother would approve of. William - I agree with you about the Sun:) I haven't read the papers just heard it on the radio and saw Channel 4 news last night.

Yet another example of manufactured media hysteria, in order to sell more newspapers. As for the Sun being called a newspaper after that rag did at Hillsborough.............

Debra - giving your opinion is fine.. and thats all the rest of us are doing too... which is why the thread shouldnt be removed - its a debate, with opinions for and against.

Yes, David - meant to say earlier, please don't delete this thread. It's not offensive. Glenys.

Looks to me like Harrys just following his fathers footsteps (ie putting his foot RIGHT in it). Misguided and stupid, but being totally blown out of proportion. An apology should be sufficient. ...and has already been said by many... there's no reason to remove this thread.

Quite interesting to see reactions globally. The following is from a German newspaper online. Joy ....................................................... Britain's Prince Harry has made many gaffes in his public life -- smoking cannabis, underage drinking, scuffling with photographers. But his latest caper -- dressing as a Nazi at a costume party, tops them all. The photo splashed across the British tabloid The Sun shows a lanky Prince Harry wearing the tan uniform of the Nazi's Afrika Korps, complete with red and black swastika armband, holding a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other. And it begs the question: "Harry, what were you thinking?" The youngest son of the late Princess Diana and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles may be the "wild child" of the British royal family, but surely he knows better? And if he doesn't, then why didn't one of his minders, or at least big brother William, who attended the "native and colonial" party in a much tamer lion costume, warn the wayward redhead? Harry's timing couldn't be worse. In just two weeks' time, his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, is due to host a reception for survivors of the Holocaust before representing the nation at the Holocaust Memorial Day National Event. Jewish leaders have already spoken out about the incident. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, one of the world's leading Jewish human rights organizations, called it "a shameful act…displaying insensitivity" to both Holocaust victims and Allied soldiers "who gave their lives to defeat Nazism." Its founder, Rabbi Marvin Hier, said Harry ought to go to Auschwitz with his uncle, Prince Edward, head of the British delegation for the 60th anniversary commemorations. In a statement from Clarence House, Harry apologized for what he called "a poor choice of costume." But there have been calls by British politicians for the prince to appear in person to make his own public apology. "If he wants to be considered an adult, he's got to behave like an adult, and he has got to apologize in person, through radio and television," said former royal press spokesman Dicky Arbiter. Others, including Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, are prepared to put the incident down to the folly of youth and let the prince's apology stand. The fact that the palace has issued an apology indicates that this was a mistake by the Prince," Romain said. "But having been given, the apology should now be accepted." In Germany, the costume scandal is likely to renew complaints that British perceptions of the country remain skewed by the Nazi era. On a recent trip to London, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said he was amazed at the way Britons still portray Germany as a nation of Nazis.

I think it would be helpful if Prince Harry made a personal apology, and I think it would be helpful if he said he was sorry for giving offence, and not the wording of the issued statement of he was sorry if offence was given. It is close to the holocaust memorial day. Maybe people of his generation are not aware of the horrors of the holocaust. Yes, he is only 20, but he is 3rd in line to the throne and, because of that, he should know better. If his great-grandmother were still alive, I would imagine she would have something to say to him ... I think I remember reading that Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was quite feared by Hitler. Joy

I dont see why David would have to delete this thread, it's just a general discussion of what is going on in the world. And he just thought he would ask what peoples opinions were. Some said they were disgusted and some said leave him to get on with it. Surlely it shouldnt turn into a argument just a opinion between friends. My opinion is leave him be it was just a fancy dress party.

So what about the John Cleese sketch in Fawlty towers (Don't mention the war). The current West End show with "Springtime for Hitler and Germany" as one of it's songs? Dads Army? I think we all have double standards, encouraged as usual by our awful media. What Harry did was in bad taste, but by that standard so are the other examples I cite! Yes, he is a silly kid, but who didn't do something daft when they were 20?

Fancy dress parties are FUN. No matter who you go as it will offend someone. Benny Hill topped the ratings and he dressed up similarly in one show he did. Harry made a gaffe; he has apologised;what more can he do? Happy days

With his career on the line, he should have been a bit more carefull. Lizz

I would be mortified if my Son went to a fancy dress party dressed like that. [ok, he's only 7months old but I mean when he's older!] At the same time I don't think younger people realise the enormity of doing such a thing, so while it is extremely insensitive of Harry I don't believe it was done with malicious intent. But of course the tabloids have pounced. Children need to be taught what their Gt Grandfathers fought for, only then will they understand. Lest we forget

Have to agree with Glenys and Ann - I can't stand people selling photos or stories to the papers for cash but for once I hadn't even thought of that...also i don't think there's any reason for people to suggest Harry shouldn't go to Sandhurst - that IS an overeaction! David

first of all,i think its awful,that david is being asked to delete this thread...its a legitimate forum for debate... secondly,i would never allow a son of mine,to go to a fancy dress party wearing a swastika...that would be an insult to my father,and his father...and lets not forget,we have thousands of troops,at this very moment,risking their lives,in the name of freedom. its about time harry grew up. bryan.

It was a bit insensitive and in bad taste, but that is what young lads do. being a royal doesn't mean he doesn't go off the rails sometimes. the main thing is he immediately apologised. i am sure that he did not for one minute mean to insult anyone. As others have said the nazis are poked fun at in 'Allo 'Allo etc and this was probably no different in his eyes. Unfortunately he is in the public eye and doesn't seem to have learnt that the media will pick on him as they did his Mother at the earliest opportunity they get. I hope he does go to Sandhurst and does become an officer. i have a feeling that he would be a good one, he's tough and willing to try anything. good luck to him. Anyway, who was the 'clever' person who sent the photo to the media? No need to delete the thread David, this is a perfectly legitimate discussion among adults. Ann Glos

David, Hi - I wasn't too impressed to hear Harry turning up dressed in that, but on the other hand I wasn't at all impressed with someone taking a photo and selling it to a newspaper. Mixed feelings I guess. Glenys.

Thanks for all your comments - interesting to see what other people think, though I do think some people have overeacted to what I've said - I don't see any reason why I should delete the thread:) I didn't know that it was a costume that can be hired or bought and that surprises me - I can't think of anything else that would have offended me and not for any politically correct reasons but I don't know anything else that symbolises such an evil belief system as the swastika. I'm a half-hearted royalist who thinks the Queen is wonderful and couldn't see anything wrong with Harry getting slaughtered and picking a fight with a photographer (I would too) but for me the apology doesn't quite wipe out the act and I do see him in a different light now. David

There are some other opinions here: http://news.bbc.*co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4170635.stm As always, remove the * Crista

My opinion is let the lad have a life, why should he always have to be politically correct, he's a young lad at a private party letting his hair down, would it be wrong for one of us so called commoners to do it. If he was attending a royal duty then yes it would be wrong, but he wasn't. they are entitled to have a private life and some fun, you only live once, and it wouldn't bother me if it had been william or any of the others. sandra