Prince Charles called Asian friend "Sooty" as palace rejects racism

Jan 13, 2009, 15:19 GMT

London - Britain's Prince Charles has been addressing an Asian friend at a polo club as 'Sooty' for decades, it emerged Tuesday, as the Palace rejected as 'completely ridiculous' any suggestion that the heir to the throne could be racist.

Prince Charles, 60, had used the term as an 'affectionate nickname' for 25 years to address Kuldip Singh Dhillon at the private polo club in Cirencester, near his country retreat in the south-western county of Gloucestershire, reports said.

Dhillon was 'utterly comfortable' with being addressed in that way, a member of the club told the BBC Tuesday.

'I know the prince calls him Sooty. It's not a problem on either side,' the unidentified club member said.

The row comes only days after Prince Harry, Charles' 24-year-old son, was forced to apologize for referring to a fellow officer cadet as a 'Paki.'

A spokesman for Prince Charles refused to comment directly on the use of an alleged nickname by the royal, but said it was 'completely ridiculous' to suggest that he was 'in any way racist.'

'Look at the work he's done here and abroad. Consistently over 30 years he's called for greater tolerance and understanding,' he said.

Cirencester Polo Club also declined to comment on the reports.