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Nazi costume was one of the biggest mistakes of my life, says Prince Harry

Contrite Duke of Sussex opens up on his error of judgement in Netflix docu-series and reveals he talked to then-Chief Rabbi about his behaviour

December 8, 2022 17:53
GettyImages-51948205
Paris, FRANCE: A man reads, 13 January 2005 in Paris, the British tabloid The Sun featuring Harry, 20, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, wearing a khaki uniform with an armband emblazoned with a swastika, emblem of the German WWII Nazi Party. The photographs in The Sun newspaper triggered outrage, especially from the Jewish community which pointed out that they appear as the royal family prepares to lead commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Holocaust. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Prince Harry has described his decision to wear a Nazi uniform for a fancy dress party as “one of the biggest mistakes” of his life.

The Duke of Sussex today cut a contrite figure as he reflected on the outrage he sparked when he wore the uniform, complete with a swastika, in 2005.

The shocking incident was addressed during the third episode of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary series, in which he also revealed he met then-Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks to talk through his behaviour.

The latest episode in the explosive series was aired this morning.

Harry said: “It was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I felt so ashamed afterwards. All I wanted to do was make it right.”

He added: “I could’ve just ignored it and probably made the same mistakes over and over again in my life. But I learned from that.”

Harry, who was aged 20 at the time, was pictured holding a drink and cigarette while wearing the costume.

At the time, Clarence House issued a response saying Harry had apologised for any offence or embarrassment caused.

But just four years later, in 2009, Harry made headlines again on race when he was caught on film calling a former Army colleague “our little P*** friend”.

His comments today came as he discussed unconscious bias within the royal family. The programme made reference to Princess Michael of Kent wearing a Blackamoor-style brooch to an event the Duchess of Sussex attended in 2017.

Harry said: “In this family, sometimes you are part of the problem rather than part of the solution. There is a huge level of unconscious bias.

“The thing with unconscious bias, it is actually no one’s fault. But once it has been pointed out, or identified within yourself you then need to make it right.

“It is education. It is awareness. It is a constant work in progress for everybody, including me.”