WORLD BRIEFING / BRITAIN
A friend of Prince Charles insisted that the prince is not racist, after a newspaper reported that the heir to the throne refers to him as Sooty.
Kolin Dhillon said the nickname used by Charles and other fellow players at the Cirencester Park Polo Club in western England was a term of affection. The wealthy property developer is originally from the Indian subcontinent.
The Daily Telegraph asserted that the term was offensive, but Dhillon said in a statement that he enjoys being called Sooty and that he is sure those who say it mean no offense.
Most Britons know the name Sooty from a 1950s children’s television program that featured a glove puppet in the shape of a teddy bear.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
