Some more bons mots from that straightest of straight speakers, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, God bless him!
29 After Dunblane massacre [in which a madman went on the rampage with a gun], 1996: “If a cricketer suddenly decided to go into a school and batter a lot of people to death with a cricket bat, are you going to ban cricket bats?”
33 To the Scottish Womens Institute in 1961: “British women can’t cook.” (God, the man's got guts!)
41 To a fashion writer in 1993: “You’re not wearing mink knickers,are you?”
44 “I’d like to go to Russia very much – although the bastards murdered half my family.” 1967.
48 At a Bangladeshi youth club in 2002:“So who’s on drugs here?... HE looks as if he’s on drugs.”
51 On how difficult it is in Britain to get rich: “What about Tom Jones? He’s made a million and he’s a bloody awful singer.”
Duke of Edinburgh - Prince Phillip at a film premiere (Pic: Rex Features)
65 “People think there’s a rigid class system here, but dukes have even been known to marry chorus girls. Some have even married Americans.” 2000.
68 On Princess Anne, 1970: “If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she isn’t interested.”
All and more courtesy of The Mirror.
Just read them all. Here's my favorite:
39 A VIP at a local airport asked HRH: “What was your flight like Your Royal Highness? Philip: “Have you ever flown in a plane?” VIP: “Oh yes, sir, many times.” “Well,” said Philip, “it was just like that.”
Posted by: Dom | Monday, 23 April 2012 at 15:19
Interesting mixture. Lots of "Gaffes" that circulate these days are merely malevolent re-tellings of self-deprecating humour. Prince Charles' "Talking to my roses" comment certainly is, along with Dan Quayle's "I'm visiting Latin america so I'd better brush up on my Latin".
Some of Philip's seem to be like this. Attempts to inject intentional humour into pompous situations. Others, refreshingly, are examples of staggering fuckwittery. The Lockerbie one is my favourite, along with his consoling words about smoke detectors to the woman whose children died in a fire. Presumably, were he not married to the Queen he would have been beaten to death several times over by now. Has anyone ever heard of anyone besting him with a retort?
Posted by: Whyaxye | Monday, 23 April 2012 at 16:31
I think, gentlemen, we just have to grit our teeth and aggree that he is now an official 'National Treasure' quite beyond all criticism! I wonder if they will produce something similar to the 'Dubya' doll I was given some years ago which actually repeats some of his, shall we say, less than crystal clear remarks? I'd buy one if they did!
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 23 April 2012 at 17:39
68 On Princess Anne, 1970: “If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she isn’t interested.”
"I think, gentlemen, we just have to grit our teeth and aggree that he is now an official 'National Treasure' quite beyond all criticism!"
Didn't read the link David, Hillbillys're better with pictures. That is your Princess Anne standing to your "National Treasure's" left? Nice poem too. Line after the hyphen... Shakespeare?
http://johnjudyc.blogspot.com/2011/01/did-phillip-fart.html
Posted by: JK | Monday, 23 April 2012 at 20:05
The poem - Shakespeare? Nah, too American, almost certainly Walt Whitman!
I've seen the pictures before and they are a hoot!
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 23 April 2012 at 20:42
aww what a nice pet! i do enjoy these. I believe the DM did this last year as well.
Posted by: missred | Tuesday, 24 April 2012 at 01:18
Apologies 'missred' takes a bit to unnerstan the trainin' lechures givern by DM, an ave erm translated enter Hillbillyenese ern row der boat.
"Bill's" ern open borders ger bert "Hill" tain't ser much. Bert says 'missred' whood enjoyed thet fart the mostest - An er dat red hederd feller? Ans dat'n Camroon'll git ya'll crost de ferry ter de Clinton Lieberry.
Prolly sleep yourn oder. Urn member. Bill still girt Sucretes Studly fretection. Maht wanter Michelin or twelvern vis'tin the Lieberry though. Dat under ribber runs swibt.
Posted by: JK | Tuesday, 24 April 2012 at 07:22
What a blessing it is to share a common language with our 'cousins'!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 24 April 2012 at 08:39
Oh there's some new ones amongst this lot.
This has now become my favourite: -
Quote
To a blind, wheelchair bound woman whose 8-year-old guide dog was by her side, during another walkabout for the Golden Jubilee: (great tension build up! .../ SoD)
"Do you know they now do eating dogs for the anorexic?"
Unquote
But this is a runner up: -
Quote
On learning that Prince Edward had been successfully admitted to Jesus College, Cambridge with a C and two D grade A-levels:
“What a friend we have in Jesus”
Unquote
I can't read any more as I've mislaid my asthma inhaler and don't wish to attend A&E this evening.
SoD
Posted by: Lawrence Duff | Tuesday, 24 April 2012 at 19:01
Corkers, both of them. What a blessing he is!
(Have a good trip and a relaxing time.)
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 24 April 2012 at 22:25
Can someone translate what JK said?
Posted by: missred | Wednesday, 25 April 2012 at 00:50
Well, actually, Missred, I have been looking for a translater of JK's, er, cryptic offerings for some time. You, being, as I gather, an Anglo-American are ideal for the job. The pay's rubbish but you do get the chance to sit on the boss's lap every so often, especially if you are dressed like those delightful ladies on your blog!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 25 April 2012 at 08:33