Duke of Edinburgh gaffes by mocking blind boy

[Still Waters]

The Duke of Edinburgh, who has a well-earned reputation for putting his foot in his mouth, made yet another gaffe when he mocked the sight of a blind boy.

The family of Stephen Menary, a teenage army cadet who was blinded in an IRA bombing, had been invited to meet the Queen and her husband at a tree planting event in Hyde Park.

After the Queen asked the then 15-year-old how much sight he had left, the Duke of Edinburgh responded: "Not a lot, judging by the tie he's wearing".

The incident happened during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, but this is the first time that the family have spoken of the Prince's remarks.

Carol Menary, 48, Stephen's mother, said: "After he said it there was just stunned silence. The Queen just looked at him open mouthed. I don't think she could believe what he had said.

"My whole family were just shocked. We knew he has a reputation for putting his foot in his mouth so we didn't take offence, but mocking the sight of a blind boy is something, even by his standards."

Read more...

[ExpandMyMind]

i love this guy, seriously, it's like he wasn't even brought up in the 20th century!

[Rhungobains]

Phil can add that one to his ever-growing list.

Queen must've worn her palms out by now.

[The Silver Thong]

This is way I could never make it as a politician outside the UK LOL

[Admiral Danger]

i got a good come back to that

"how old do you think that man is"

"ancient judging by how high up his trowsers are"

Edited December 14, 2009 by Dr Alien

[TheResearcher]

Oh my, indeed that was a bit of a gaffe. It happens to all of us in one way or another I suppose; there's no real malice behind it. He's a rather nice chap really. Some of the other quotes at the bottom of the article are rather hilarious though.

[The Silver Thong]

Oh my, indeed that was a bit of a gaffe. It happens to all of us in one way or another I suppose; there's no real malice behind it. He's a rather nice chap really. Some of the other quotes at the bottom of the article are rather hilarious though.

You made me go back and look and ya this guy is awesome LOL

"In 2002, he asked an aborigine whether he was "still throwing spears".

On a State visit to China in 1986, he told British students: "If you stay here much longer, you'll all be slitty-eyed."

As dole queues grew in 1981, he said: "Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed."

Once, he asked a Kenyan dancer during a State visit: "You are a woman, aren't you?"

On another occasion he asked a student who had been trekking in Papua New Guinea: 'You managed not to get eaten, then?"

Speaking to a driving instructor in Oban, Scotland, he asked: "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?"

[ExpandMyMind]

You made me go back and look and ya this guy is awesome LOL

"In 2002, he asked an aborigine whether he was "still throwing spears".

On a State visit to China in 1986, he told British students: "If you stay here much longer, you'll all be slitty-eyed."

As dole queues grew in 1981, he said: "Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed."

Once, he asked a Kenyan dancer during a State visit: "You are a woman, aren't you?"

On another occasion he asked a student who had been trekking in Papua New Guinea: 'You managed not to get eaten, then?"

Speaking to a driving instructor in Oban, Scotland, he asked: "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?"

like i said, the guy's a legend! not that i agree with all of his colourful comments, most are downright wrong. it's just the fact that someone in his position could be so consistantly politically incorrect... he just says whatever's on his mind, no matter what anyone thinks. nuts!

[fandango]

You know as insane as he is, we are going to miss him when he's gone.

[Bill Hill]

lol not too bad by his standards..

I kinda expected him, to out-stretch his hands and bump into things..shouting

"Look at me, I'm the blind kid...."

[hetrodoxly]

The antidote to the PC brigade, i'll mourn his passing.

[Splodgenessabounds]

With the Royals' extensive history of inbreeding, you expect at least one of them to be a bit mental.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Splodgenessabounds

[ExpandMyMind]

lol not too bad by his standards..

I kinda expected him, to out-stretch his hands and bump into things..shouting

"Look at me, I'm the blind kid...."

LMAO.

[stevewinn]

this happened in 2002, why are the family going to the press now? do they need money for Christmas?.

Edited December 14, 2009 by stevewinn

[Black Red Devil]

You made me go back and look and ya this guy is awesome LOL

"In 2002, he asked an aborigine whether he was "still throwing spears".

On a State visit to China in 1986, he told British students: "If you stay here much longer, you'll all be slitty-eyed."

As dole queues grew in 1981, he said: "Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed."

Once, he asked a Kenyan dancer during a State visit: "You are a woman, aren't you?"

On another occasion he asked a student who had been trekking in Papua New Guinea: 'You managed not to get eaten, then?"

Speaking to a driving instructor in Oban, Scotland, he asked: "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?"

Also:

Prince Philip on his daughter, Princess Anne: 'If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she isn't interested

and

[bLu3 de 3n3rgy]

I've read that the queen loves him for his sense of humour. He's not that unusual for his generation.

[ExpandMyMind]

I've read that the queen loves him for his sense of humour. He's not that unusual for his generation.

i doubt her's is a marriage of love. but, you never know... maybe his quick wit won her over?

Edited December 14, 2009 by expandmymind

[UltraThunderMan]

WIN!

[little_dreamer]

This is great. I haven't heard anything humorous or interesting about the British royals lately.

It's been kind of boring the past few years.

I really enjoy those average I.Q. antics of theirs.

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

If that was said in a film, it'd actually be quite a funny joke, in fact a fair bit of what he says is meant, IMO, to be a joke.

It's just the bunch of pooh-faced numpties in the PC brigade who can't accept the idea of someone making a joke in a serious occasion.

[Ryinrea]

I laughed out loud, and he is a great man I THINK.