Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Times Online:

Prince Charles and his sons call an Asian polo-playing friend by the nickname “Sooty”, it emerged today.

The politically-incorrect name, said to be used to address wealthy property developer Kuldip Dhillon, was disclosed the day after Prince Harry apologised for referring to a fellow Sandhurst cadet as his “Paki friend”.

The Prince of Wales, together with Prince William and Prince Harry, is said to call Mr Dhillon “Sooty” when they play together at the Cirencester Polo Club near Prince Charles’s Highgrove Estate.

Mr Dhillon, 58, whose family is of Indian origin, is the former chairman of the Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA) and a long-standing member of the Gloucestershire club. His son Satnam, 31, is a professional polo player who has represented England and also played alongside Princes Charles, William and Harry.

A friend of Mr Dhillon’s at SUPA said: ”He has been called Sooty for as long as I remember. The Princes and other royalty have called him that since I first met him, and that was about 15 or 16 years ago.

“They call him Sooty every time they meet and he’s never upset about that. It’s an affectionate nickname, after all.”

A member of the Cirencester club, who asked not to be named, said the name Sooty was “putting two fingers up” to political correctness.

He added: ”Charles, along with both of his boys, have called this chap Sooty because it is his nickname and he is perfectly comfortable with it. I suppose we all see this as a sort of running joke about political correctness.

“They are no more racists than I am and I use the word to address this chap whenever I see him too.”

Mr Dhillon was unavailable for comment today and his wife said: “We have absolutely nothing to say on this matter.”

However neighbours living near the millionaire’s mansion in Coates, Gloucestershire, said he is not referred to as Sooty by anyone outside the polo fraternity.

One friend said: ”I’ve never heard him being called that. He’s lived near us for years and he’s never referred to himself as that. Why would he?”

Kate Beim, a committee member for SUPA, said: ”We have nothing to say about matters concerning Prince Harry or allegations of racism.”

Clarence House today denied Prince Charles or any members of the Royal Family are racist.

A spokesman said: ”The Prince of Wales has a very strong view on racial intolerance. No one has been more of an advocate for the understanding and tolerance of various religious and ethnic groups and his track record speaks volumes on this issue.”

The allegations follow the release of a video shot three years ago in which Prince Harry refers to a Pakistani Army cadet, Ahmed Raza Khan as “our Paki friend”.