Britain's Prince Harry has apologised after a newspaper website published video footage showing him calling an Asian army colleague a "Paki".
In the recording, which the News of the Worldsaid was made in 2006, the 24-year-old prince is behind the camera and can he heard making a mock commentary.
"Anyone else here . . . ah, our little Paki friend . . . Ahmed," Harry says as he zooms onto the face of an Asian officer cadet while waiting at an airport to fly to Cyprus.
The word "Paki" is derogatory slang for an immigrant or descendant of an immigrant from Pakistan.
Harry was also shown telling another officer cadet wearing a camouflage veil during a night manoeuvre in Cyprus, "You look like a raghead" - an offensive term for an Arab.
A spokesman for Britain's royal family said there had been no racist intent in Harry's words.
"Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term [Paki] can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause," the spokesman 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 spokesman said Harry had used "raghead" to mean a Taliban or Iraqi insurgent.
The Defence Ministry said it was not aware of any complaint being made by the two soldiers.
Reuters