Philip, the Duke of Hazard

Philip, the Duke of Hazard 30/05/2006 09:19 - (SA)

David Stringer

London - Britain's Prince Philip had not caused offence when he claimed he intends to do "as little as possible" during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, event organisers said on Monday.
The comments came days before publication of a book, which catalogues the prince's history of making verbal gaffes.

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II, who turns 85 on June 10, said he finds Olympic opening and
closing ceremonies "absolute bloody nuisances," in comments attributed to him in an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Asked if he intended to perform duties during the 2012 Olympics, by which time he will be 91, the prince told the newspaper he hoped to do "as little as possible".

Ceremonies 'absolute bloody nuisances'

A spokesperson for the Queen's Buckingham Palace residence said the prince had granted the interview before his birthday and confirmed she had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the comments.

"I am truly fed up with the opening and closing ceremonies. They are a pain in the neck," Prince Philip told the newspaper, in an interview first published in Saturday editions.

"Opening and closing ceremonies ought to be banned. Absolute bloody nuisances. I have been to one that was absolutely, appallingly awful," he told the newspaper.

Jackie Rock-Doyle, London 2012 chief spokesperson, said the comments were a "good thing" and would only serve to raise public interest, according to a statement.

"The great thing about the Olympic and Paralympic Games is that pretty much everyone has a view - from the Royal Family down," she said.

Collection of gaffes

The prince's latest barb came before the publication on Wednesday of The Duke of Hazard: The
Wit and Wisdom of Prince Philip, a book that celebrates six decades of his blunt - and often politically incorrect -comments during engagements across the world.

The 100-page book includes details of an infamous gaffe in Beijing, China in 1986, when the prince told British students "if you stay here much longer you'll all be slitty-eyed".

It also recounts an occasion in Cardiff, Wales, when he addressed young members of the British Deaf Association who were standing close to a band playing steel drums. "Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf," the prince told them.

In Hungary, the prince is said to have told a British man he must have only arrived recently as he hadn't "got a pot belly" and in Scotland, asked a driving instructor how he managed to "keep the natives off the booze long enough" to pass their driving test.

Authors Phil Dampier and Ashley Walton and the book's publisher Book Guild Limited were not immediately available for comment.

"We are aware of the book, but it is matter for the authors," said the Buckingham Palace spokesperson, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.