Brown gives 'benefit of doubt' to Prince Harry

Gordon Brown said that he believed the public would give Prince Harry the "benefit of the doubt" over the furore in which the young Royal was caught on film referring to a Pakistani platoon member as a "Paki".

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The Prime Minister said he believed the Prince knew his comments were "unacceptable" but he believed his apology was genuine.

Asked on GMTV about the row, Mr Brown said the question of whether Harry was disciplined over the affair was up to the Army.

He said: "I think the sincerity of his apology cannot be doubted. It was a mistake, he has made the admission of that and, once he has made his apology, I think the British people are good enough to give someone who has actually been a role model for young people and has done well fighting for our country, gone into very difficult situations with bravery, I think they will give him the benefit of the doubt."

Mr Brown's comments come after Harry was caught on film three years ago referring to Pakistani platoon member Ahmed Raza Khan as "our little Paki friend".

Palace officials said the 24-year-old Prince was "extremely sorry" for the comment and stressed that Harry had been speaking to a friend without malice.

But the soldier's father, Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Abbasi, accused Harry - who is third in line to the throne - of using a "hate word" against his son.