THE HALF-WIT OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
As long ago as 1966, he was already insulting his own countrywomen, with the remark, “British women can’t cook.”, though what he knew about cooking is a mystery - eating, yes, cooking NO!
It was in the 1970s that he started to have a go at the Welfare State In 1971, he argued that people ought to be taxed for having children “because they are being subsidised to breed”, without noticing the irony that he was being heavily subsidised himself. He got on his hobby-horse again when he told businessmen that “The Welfare state is a protection against failure and exploitation. A national recovery can only take place if innovators and men of enterprise and hard work can prosper” (1976)
And back in 1981, when his country was enduring a deep recession, he remarked, “Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed.”
In 1986, he exhibited his casual racism while on a visit to Beijing, where he jovially told British exchange students, “If you stay here much longer you’ll all be slitty-eyed.” His ability to offend his hosts abroad is legendary, as when in 1993 he told a Briton in Hungary: “You can’t have been here long. You’ve not got a pot belly.”
In the past, he has ignored the storm generated by his remarks, which included asking a Scottish driving instructor, “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?” (1995)
His sensitivity to others is not exactly a strong point either as he offended many grieving parents after Dunblane in responding to the call for control of hand-guns. “But I’m not altogether convinced that it’s the best system to somehow shift the blame onto a very large, peaceable part of the community. If a cricketer, for instance, suddenly decided to go into a school and batter a lot of people to death with a cricket bat, which he could do very easily ... I mean are you going to ban cricket bats?” (December 1996)
Disability is not something he understands very well, either. In Cardiff in 1999, he told some deaf teenagers near a loud steel band: “If you’re near that music, it’s no wonder you’re deaf.”
But, his racism keeps coming back to haunt the Royal Family. As he toured a high-tech company near Edinburgh, Scotland, and noticed a poorly wired fuse box. ‘It looks as though it was put in by an Indian.’ he said to the factory manager.(1999)
And its not as if he has learnt anything either. Last year he asked a 13yr.old boy about a spacecraft they were looking at, before saying: “Well, you’ll never fly in it, you’re too fat to be an astronaut.” (2001)
A Taxi Driver writes on a topic of importance
Phil the Greek, (Cab No.1)
I had the wife’s Mum in the back of the cab recently and she was knocking back the gin while phoning the bookies on her mobile. You wouldn’t believe the money she put on some no-hopers. I ask you, Charlie Boy odds-on to be King - she has to be joking - more money than -sense if you ask me.
And then she suddenly goes all croaky, saying that she is dying. Well, I’ve heard that one before - you take them to the hospital and they do a runner while you’re not looking. Anyway, I got back to her apartments and what does she do but die on me. I tell you, some people will do anything to avoid paying their way and I should know!
Never mind, I can always claim it as a tax expense, not that I pay taxes, but its the thought that counts.