Prince Philip gaffes

Other families have daft old men who are a constant source of embarrassment. But the Windsors' one is turning into a particularly unsavory example of the breed.

We have tolerated Prince Philip's countless gaffes over the years because he is the queen's husband. But his more recent antics go beyond a laugh.

He has insulted the Scots, Chinese and Hungarians, the grieving parents of Dunblane and the deaf. He surpassed himself with an outrageous slur on Indians, insinuating they can only make poor quality fuse boxes.

It was so offensive even by Philip's standards that he had to issue a rare apology. But that is not good enough. Philip has been dropping the queen in it for too long and dragging down the reputation of the royal family as he does so.

He may well have been a loyal and trusty consort to her majesty, and he may well have performed many selfless acts of charity. But the truth is his behavior has become a liability at a time when the monarchy needs to modernize and move with the times.

-- The Mirror, London