However, in my opinion, the worst gaffe made by Silvio Berlusconi was when Italy's Prime Minister humiliated Angela Merkel at a Nato Summit Conference by keeping her waiting whilst he chatted on his mobile. Absolutely staggering!
Of course there are a number of people in the public eye who are well known for their gaffes. American presidents are well represented with the likes of George W Bush and Ronald Raegan. And we need look no further than our own back yard for political gaffes, such as the famous "bigoted woman" gaffe from Gordon Brown in the 2010 election and here are some other well known political noses out of joint. And for those of you not quite sated, here are a couple more gaffes.
However, if we were to give a lifetime achievement award for gaffes made by a figure in the public eye, then sureley, it must go to the Gaffer himself: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Here are a selection of his utterances, straight from the horse's arse:
British women can't cook. - 1966.Imagine being married to him...?
Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed. - during the 1981 recession.
If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not an aeroplane, and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it. - at a 1986 World Wildlife Fund meeting.
If a cricketer, for instance, suddenly decided to go into a school and batter a lot of people to death with a cricket bat, which he could do very easily, I mean, are you going to ban cricket bats? - in 1996, amid calls to ban firearms after the Dunblane shooting.
If you stay here much longer, you'll all be slitty-eyed. - to British students in China, during the 1986 state visit.
Are you still throwing spears at other tribes? - to Ivan Brim, Djabugay Elder at Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, Australia 2002.
A blind man walked into a pub and swung his guide dog around his head by the tail. He told the barman 'I'm just having a look around'. - telling a joke to a blind girl while presenting awards in Edinburgh in 1984.
We may have to move to smaller premises, who knows? We had a small yacht which we've had to sell and I shall probably have to give up polo fairly soon. - explaining in 1969 that the amount given to the Royal Family by the government was not enough to meet their expenses.
If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she isn't interested. - speaking about his daughter, Princess Anne.
I hope he breaks his bloody neck. - referring to a photographer who fell from a pole while trying to get a better view.
We don't come here for our health, you know. - while on a Royal visit to Canada in 1969.
You managed not to get eaten then? - while speaking to a Duke of Edinburgh Award participant in 1998 who had trekked across Papua New Guinea's Kokoda Trail, hinting that cannibalism was still practised in Papua New Guinea.
Get that bloody man out of the way. Hey you, didn't you hear what I said? You're blocking my bloody view. - referring to reporter David Leith who was standing in front of him at a Moroccan beauty spot.
I suppose you are the head knit. - speaking to the Managing Director of a Manchester knitting company.
I don't think doing it for money makes it any more moral. I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing. - a speech in London in 1988 comparing participation in blood sports to selling slaughtered meat.
Bloody silly fool! - in 1997, referring to a Cambridge University car park attendant who did not recognise him.
How do the natives keep off the booze long enough to pass their tests? - talking to a driving instructor on a visit to Oban, Scotland.
I don't know how these students are going to integrate in places like Glasgow and Sheffield. I have to commiserate with them. - after visiting a university in Brunei and talking to students who wanted to study in Britain.
I think the number of those killed has been exaggerated. - during a visit to Amritsar, India in 1997 referring to the massacre of 379 unarmed protesters by British troops in 1919.
It looks as if it was put in by an Indian. - pointing at an old-fashioned fusebox in a factory near Edinburgh in 1999.
Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf. - to young deaf people in Cardiff, in 1999, referring to a nearby school's welcoming steel band.
You are a woman, aren't you? - in Kenya, in 1984, after accepting a small gift from an indigenous woman.
Highly energetic blog, like it. Public Eye Lifetime Award
ReplyDelete