Prince Philip Pooh-Pooh’s Green Initiative

Whilst in Bristol for last week’s royal visit, the Duke of Edinburgh was overheard dismissing sustainability as ‘a load of crap’.

The comment was overheard during a special lunch for the monarch and her 90-year old husband, who dined with prominent figures from the Bristol community.

The remark was made to a local businessman who would prefer to remain unnamed, who is widely known as a proud backer of green initiatives. When describing the ecologically-sound company which he founded, the Duke asked him what was meant by the term ‘green’.

Upon learning that the businessman meant that his company strives to be sustainable, the Duke allegedly responded ‘sustainability: what a load of crap’.

Although this comment may have been made in jest and was well taken by the businessman, it appears to be yet another faux-pas for the often outspoken consort of the Queen.

Prince Philip has a long history of making jokes of questionable taste. As far back as 1986, the Prince warned a group of British students studying in China ‘if you stay here much longer, you’ll go slit-eyed’.

His dismissive remark about the green movement is likely to upset many in Bristol, which is a city with a proud record of working to achieve sustainability.

However, it seems unlikely that the Prince reflects the attitude of the entire royal family. Ironically, the company run by the businessman in question has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Sustainability.