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Your support makes all the difference. Close Read more Close The Sunday Times has apologised for a front-page article that claimed the British public “secretly enjoyed” Prince Philip ’s racist “gaffes”.
In a story about the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in Windsor on Saturday, the newspaper’s chief foreign correspondent Christina Lamb described the Queen’s late husband as an “often crotchety figure, offending people with gaffes about slitty eyes, even if secretly we rather enjoyed them”.
The line, which appeared in the third paragraph of the print edition of the paper, seemingly referred to a comment Philip made during a visit to China in 1986, when he told 21-year-old British student Simon Kerby: “If you stay here much longer, you will go home with slitty eyes.”
It was pulled from the digital editions, which instead said the duke was an “often crotchety figure, offending people with his gaffes, even if we secretly laughed at them”.
An online petition , set up by the ESEA (East and South-East Asian) Network, accused the newspaper of “trivialising racism” and demanded a formal retraction and apology.
The Change.org petition, which had attracted more than 20,000 signatures by Tuesday evening, stated: “Portraying the nation as a collective ‘we’ that ‘secretly’ enjoys racist and derogatory slurs at the expense of ethnic groups is insensitive at best, and encouraging racist violence at worst.
“‘Casual’ racism is still racism, and all racism is unacceptable. The constant framing of these comments as a light-hearted joke must be condemned for what it is – egregious nullification of racism, giving legitimacy to the false belief that using derogatory terms to describe the features of ethnic groups is nothing more than humour and entertainment.
“Intent does not negate the impact, whether in regurgitating or approving the ‘gaffes’.”
In a statement to the Press Gazette , Sunday Times editor Emma Tucker apologised for the offence caused by the piece.
Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the worldShow all 55 1 /55Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Reenactors of the Malta Heritage Trust fire a nine-gun salute to honour Britain's Prince Philip before his funeral, at the Upper Barrakka Saluting Battery overlooking Grand Harbour, in Valletta, Malta
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Reenactor members of the Malta Command WW2 Living History Group and Ex Royal Navy WREN officer Elaine Zerafa, Secretary of the Royal Naval Association (Malta Branch) hold a picture of Prince Philip to honour him before his funeral, outside Villa Guardamangia, a former residence of Britain's then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip between 1949 and 1951, in Pieta, Malta
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world A woman lays flowers to honour Prince Philip before his funeral, outside Villa Guardamangia, a former residence of Britain's then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip between 1949 and 1951, in Pieta, Malta
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Artist Kaya Marr holds a portrait of Britain's Prince Philip outside Windsor Castle in Windsor
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip's insignias are placed on the altar in St George's Chapel, Windsor
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world King's Troup Royal Horse Artillery rides towards Windsor Castle in Windsor
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world A person salutes the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery as they make their way down the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Flowers are laid on the grass outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Swansea City and Wycombe Wanderers players stand for a minute's silence in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Pupils and staff from Gordonstoun school cast a wreath into the Moray Firth from the Ocean Spirit in a tribute to former pupil Prince Phillip The Duke of Edinburgh
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Nine cannon rounds are fired in honour of Prince Phillip in Valletta, Malta
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Images of Britain's Prince Philip are displayed on a giant screen at Piccadilly Circus, London
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive at Windsor Castle in preparation for the Gun Salute on the palace grounds on the day of the funeral of Prince Philip
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Airmen of the Royal Air Force marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Foot Guards Band are seen marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Bar staff serve pints of beer at the Duke of Edinburgh pub
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Foot Guards Band are seen marching into position ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Members of the military arrive for the funeral
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The hearse, a specially modified Land Rover, drives on the grounds of Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R) and members of the Royal family stand outside St George's Chapel for the funeral service of Britain's Prince Philip
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Well-wishers sit outside Windsor Castle following the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, in Windsor
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex during the funeral of Prince Philip
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world People watch the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Members of the Royal family follow the coffin of Britain's Prince Philip in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walks behind The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The coffin arrives at St George's Chapel for the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Prince of Wales
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Britain's Queen Elizabeth II follows the coffin in a car as it makes it's way past the Round Tower
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon observes a minute's silence outside Bute House in Edinburgh
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Queen Elizabeth II arrives ahead of the funeral
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin, covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard arrives at St George’s Chapel
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Britain’s Prince Harry, from right, Prince William, Peter Phillips and Tim Laurence follow the coffin in a ceremonial procession
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Queen Elizabeth II watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral at St George's Chapel
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Harry walking in the procession at Windsor Castle
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for the funeral
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walks behind The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Members of the public observe a minute’s silence on the Long Walk in Windsor
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world People observe a minute's silence for Britain's Prince Philip at Piccadilly Circus in London
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world In this handout photo provided by the Ministry of Defence, the gun salute at Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Saturday, April 17, 2021, a single round was fired at 1500, followed by a single round at 1501 to begin and end the National Minute Silence immediately before the funeral service
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world World War II veteran Malcolm Clerc, 94, watches the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, on the television at his home in Knutsford, Cheshire
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world London Black Cab taxi drivers observe a minute's silence
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex and Prince Harry walk behind the Land Rover Defender carrying the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin ahead of his funeral
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world A handout photo made available by the British Ministry of defense shows a single round of a gun salute that was fired at 1500, followed by a single round at 1501 to begin and end the National Minute Silence immediately before the funeral service
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during the funeral
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Queen Elizabeth II takes her seat for the funeral
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Princess Eugenie of York and her husband Jack Brooksbank
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Andrew, Duke of York during the funeral
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of Cambridge (left) and the Duke of Sussex (centre) follow the coffin of their grandfather
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Pall Bearers carrying the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Outward Bounds Trust members, from left, Charlotte Murray holds the Outward Bound Trust flag, James Corfe holds the flag of St George and Ellie Farthing holds the Royal Soverign Flag on the summit of Scafell Pike in Cumbria
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex , The Duke of Cambridge Peter Phillips and The Duke of Sussex follow the Land Rover Defender carrying the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The bearer Party found by The Queen�s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carry the coffin of HRH Prince Philip
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Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of Sussex walks up the West Steps outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
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She said: “This so-called ‘gaffe’ made by Prince Philip was a well-known aspect of his life story. The Sunday Times did not intend to condone it.
“It was noted by us on Saturday night that the sentence was offensive and it was not published in digital editions.
“Christina Lamb has spent her whole career reporting on discrimination and injustices against people in every part of the world and never intended to make light of his remark in any way.”
Police forces across England have recorded spikes in hate crime incidents against Chinese people amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which originated in China.
Since the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK, multiple incidents of racism against Chinese people have been reported, with victims having been spat at, punched and verbally abused in the street.
Police data indicated a 300 per cent increase in hate crime reports from British Chinese, East and South East Asians in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019.
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