LONDON – Prince Philip has been accused of making a gaffe on a walkabout atSandringham on Sunday after he reportedly pointed at a bearded member ofthe public and asked: “Is that a terrorist?” The Guardian has reported
The Queen’s husband, 96, was attending St Magdalene church, close to theroyal family home in north Norfolk, on New Year’s Eve along with hisdaughter Anne, the Princess Royal, when he allegedly made the remark.
Philip spotted a tall man with a long ginger beard and made the comment tohis minders, according to an unnamed witness quoted by the Daily Mail andSun, who said the man in question found the apparent joke hilarious.
“The man appeared to be his with wife and child,” the Sun reported thewitness as saying. “Philip was wishing lots of people a happy new year andthen he spotted this guy with his distinctive beard. He pointed at him in afunny way and turned to one of his royal bodyguards, saying: ‘Is that aterrorist?’
“He was obviously having a little joke, but he said it within earshot ofthe man who burst out laughing and appeared to find the whole thinghilarious. I think Philip knew he was going to be overheard.”
The royal also joked with Alison Leggett, 54, of Hunstanton, Norfolk, afterseeing her 18-month-old fox red labrador lounging on soggy grass, tellingher: “I hope he hasn’t got rising damp.”
The congregation, which also included the Queen, then entered the churchand sang a variety of Christmas carols including It Came Upon the MidnightClear, As With Gladness Men of Old and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
The duke stepped away from public life this year but has seemingly not losthis notorious penchant for provocative remarks .
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.