Vladimir Putin has condemned remarks by Prince Charles reportedly comparing his actions to those of the Nazis, saying his words were “not what monarchs do”.
The prince’s reported comments were “unacceptable” and “wrong”, the Russian president said.
Prince Charles is said to have compared Russia’s actions in Ukraine with the Nazi occupation of Europe.
Clarence House declined to comment on Putin’s criticism.
Asked about the prince’s reported comments during an interview with international news agencies, the Russian president said: “It reminds me of a good proverb: ‘You are angry. That means you are wrong.”‘
He told journalists: “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.”
Putin added: “I met him personally, as well as other members of the Royal Family. This is not what monarchs do.
“But over the past few years we have seen so much, nothing surprises me any longer.”
The alleged comments were made during a conversation with a former Polish war refugee during a royal tour to Canada.
The prince was speaking to 78-year-old Marienne Ferguson, who left Poland for Canada shortly before the Nazi occupation, at an immigration museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
They had been discussing Hitler’s takeover of countries. Ferguson said the prince said “something to the effect of ‘it’s not unlike… what Putin is doing’”. BBC
