Shaky Ground
BBC News: Prince’s Mugabe handshake gaffe
Prince Charles has made a diplomatic gaffe on the eve of his wedding, by shaking hands with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe at the Pope’s funeral.
In fairness to Chas, it was an easy mistake to make. Like Jack “it was quite dark” Straw, he probably thought he was shaking hands with Thabo Mbeki or Kofi Annan. Or Linford Christie.
Sammy Davis Jnr?
Posted on April 8th, 2005 at 10:20 pm
Oh come on, let’s be a little fairer than that. The congregation were asked to offer one another a sign of peace, and Mugabe seized the opportunity. In any case, no matter what we think of a regime, I don’t think there are many good arguments for acting without propriety. He may be a mass murderer and tyrant, but I still don’t see why we shouldn’t extend common courtesies like a handshake. Provided that we aren’t afraid to tell him where he can stick his Zanu-PF party.
Aw, Ken. Charles is a petulant fool who’s only in the job because of an accident of birth. Mugabe is an unspeakable bastard.
We don’t know them. They’re unlikely to read this. Allow me my cheap gag.
Actually, it was rather dark. I thought I was shaking hands with Prince Edward. Even washed my hands afterwards.
I think Mugabe goes deliberately out of his way to cause embarassment for British figures. He must know what kind of headlines it causes back in Britain, so what’s he got to lose in seeing what fools he can sucker in?