Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip defends the infamous "slitty-eyed" gaffe he made during a trip to China 25 years ago'

Prince Philip's notorious comment that British students would become 'slitty-eyed' if they stayed in China became one of his most famous -- some would say infamous -- gaffes. The state visit in 1986 became renowned for the incident, in which he advised the students, "If you stay here much longer you will all be slitty-eyed". But despite a long career in the spotlight, and the international opprobrium his intervention produced, it seems the Duke is steadfast in his belief that he was right.


Notorious: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Great Wall
of China during their 1986 State Visit. file Pic/Getty Images

He told a BBC documentary to mark his 90th birthday, "I'd forgotten about it. But for one particular reporter who overheard it, it wouldn't have come out. What's more, the Chinese weren't worried about it, so why should anyone else?" The 'slitty-eyed' remark was one of a lengthy list of what have been seen as gaffes in the Duke's career as consort to the Queen. On his birthday next month, he is set to undertake two official engagements.
However, two days later, on June 12, his official celebrations will include a service at St George's chapel in Windsor and a reception at the castle.

To mark the occasion, Buckingham Palace has released a list of 90 facts about the Duke. They include the fact that in 2009, he became the longest serving consort in British history when he out-lived Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III; he has made an estimated 5,000 speeches; and he has gradually re-designed the gardens at Balmoral, including forming a water garden which he dug himself with a bulldozer.

Royal gaffes
>> He tells Indian businessman Atul Patel "There's a lot of your family in tonight" at a 400-strong Buckingham Palace reception for British Indians in October 2009.
>> Navy sea cadet instructor Elizabeth Rendle who works in a bar was asked 'Is it a strip club?' by the Prince.
>> A Buckingham Palace guest with a goatee who told Prince Philip he was a designer got the sharp response: 'Well, you didn't design your beard too well, did you?' in 2009.

June 10
Prince Philip will celebrate his birthday. However, a special event has been organised for his birthday on June 12. A special page has also been set up on the British Monarchy website.