Vladimir Putin Hits Back at Prince Charles

Vladimir Putin, right, accused the Prince of Wales of 'unroyal behaviour'
for comparing him to Adolf Hitler

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The Russian president accuses the Prince of Wales of 'unacceptable' and 'unroyal behaviour'

Vladimir Putin has launched a withering attack on the Prince of Wales, accusing the heir to the throne of “unacceptable” and “unroyal behaviour” for comparing him to Adolf Hitler.

In an escalation of hostilities between the Kremlin and Clarence House, the Russian president made his first personal intervention in the row five days after the Prince was said to have likened him to the German Nazi leader.

Mr Putin accused the Prince of being “wrong” over the comments, which he was said to have made on Monday on a Royal tour of Canada. He also said that the Prince was speaking out of turn and his behaviour was not befitting of “what monarchs do”.

The Prince was alleged to have compared Mr Putin to Hitler over his annexation of the Crimea in an aside made to a 78-year-old Jewish woman who had fled to Canada to escape the Nazis. He told Marienne Ferguson words to the effect of: “And now Mr Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler.” The remarks have increased diplomatic tensions between the UK and Russia, already heightened over the seizure of the Crimea from Ukraine and manoeuvres to destabilise the east of the country.

Yesterday, Mr Putin told press agencies gathered at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St Petersburg: “Give my words to Prince Charles. He has been to our country more than once, if he made such a comparison, it is unacceptable and I am sure he understands that as a man of manners.

“I think he [Prince Charles] himself understands that. He is an educated man. He is a well-brought-up person.

“This is unroyal behaviour. This is not what monarchs do. But over the past few years we have seen so much, nothing surprises me any longer.” Mr Putin quoted a Russian proverb, suggesting that the Prince’s anger was a demonstration that he had actually made a false comparison. Mr Putin said: “It reminds me of a good proverb: 'You are angry. That means you are wrong’.” » | Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter | Sunday, May 24, 2014