London - Britain's Prince Harry found himself once again in the centre of public controversy Sunday after reports surfaced of a comment he made three years ago referring to a fellow military cadet as "our little Paki friend."The video released late Saturday by the News of the World reportedly shows Harry when he was on manoeuvres in Cyprus in 2006 while still an officer cadet at Sandhurst military academy.
At one point he comments "Ah, our little Paki friend ... Ahmed." Media reports said the reference was possibly to Ahmed Raza Khan, a Pakistani who won the award for the best overseas cadet at Sandhurst.
Immediately after the remark was reported late Saturday, Prince Harry through St James Palace issued an apology but insisted that the comment was a nickname and not done in malice.
"Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause," the statement said.
"However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon. There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend," the statement added.
But public reaction to the reported remark by Harry - who is number three in the line to the throne - was quick and generally condemning.
A spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said "These appear to be disturbing allegations and we will be asking the MoD (Ministry of Defence) to see the evidence, share that evidence with us and their plans for dealing with it. We will then consider what further action might be necessary."
Khalid Mahmood, a Labour party member of parliament, commented that "This might have been said in a light-hearted manner but ultimately it's offensive to a lot of people."
Conservative Party leasder David Cameron also blasted the reported remark, calling it "completely unacceptable" and saying it was "right" that Prince Harry had issued an apology.
But the Tory leader, commenting on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, said he didn't think any further disciplinary action was needed. "No, he has made an apology, I think it is important he is clear about that and I think that is enough."
One person to come to the prince's defence was Rod Richards, a former Foreign Office minister in the conservative government of former prime minister John Major and an officer in the Royal Marines.
Richards said that he noted that in the military, nicknames were commonly used an not necessarily racist or derogatory.
"The use of the word 'Paki' doesn't surprise me but in a military context, it is not derogatory. People are making an issue out of something that is not an issue," he argued.
Prince Harry had previously been at the centre of public outrage in 2005, when he was photographed at a private party wearing a Nazi swastika armband.
