Britain's Prince Harry apologised on Sunday for any offence caused after a self-filmed video was released showing him calling an army colleague a "Paki" and telling another he looked like a "raghead".

The video, obtained by the News of the World weekly, plunges the 24-year-old army lieutenant, third in line to the throne, into fresh controversy four years after he sparked an outcry by wearing a Nazi swastika at a fancy dress party.

Apology to Paksitan?

Politicians condemned his remarks and welcomed his apology, but the father of the soldier targeted said Harry should go further and apologise to Pakistani people for the "hate" word he used.

The Ministry of Defence said Harry's commanding officer would look into his remarks.

Britain's biggest-selling newspaper said the clips, posted on its website, were made in 2006 when the prince was still an officer cadet.

The footage begins as Harry is waiting with his platoon in an airport departure lounge for a flight to a training exercise in Cyprus.

Touring the room with a video camera as his colleagues snooze, he spots a colleague of South Asian ethnic origin and says: "Anybody else around here?... Ah, our little Paki friend, Ahmed."

"Paki" is a racist term for Pakistanis or other South Asians and is thought to have been directed at Ahmed Raza Khan, who served with Harry at the Sandhurst military academy.

Used without 'malice'

Harry's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II presented Khan, who is from Pakistan, with the Overseas Sword for being the best foreign cadet in April 2006.

The prince's office issued an apology, but insisted he had used the term without malice.

"Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause," a spokesperson said.

"However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon.

"There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend."

Khan's father Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Abbasi said he was "very, very hurt" by the remarks, telling the Daily Mail newspaper from Pakistan: "That word he used is a hate word and should never be used against any Pakistani.

"Prince Harry should apologise to the Pakistani army and to the Pakistani government for this. I cannot accept his apology unless they first accept his apology."

Comments from politicians

The newspaper report said Harry made the "raghead" remark — a racist term for Arabs — while taking part in night manoeuvres in Cyprus.

The prince is filming when he spots a comrade with camouflage netting over his head and as he faces the camera, Harry says: "It's Dan the Man... F#@k me, you look like a raghead."

The royal spokesperson said: "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taliban or Iraqi insurgent."

The prince served with the army battling Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan last year but was forced to return home after a media blackout was broken. He is to begin training soon as a combat helicopter pilot.

Cabinet minister John Denham condemned Harry's language, saying: "People have changed their attitudes, people realise how offensive it is and I think the fact he has apologised so quickly shows that he's recognised it."

David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservatives, said Harry's comments were "completely unacceptable" and it was "right" he had apologised, but did not call for him to be reprimanded.

'Deeply shocked and saddened'

Mohammed Shafiq, director of Muslim youth organisation the Ramadan Foundation, said: "I am deeply shocked and saddened at Prince Harry's racism which upsets and offends many British Asians."

He said the comments were" sickening and he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself."

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "Neither the army nor the armed forces tolerates inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form.

"The army takes all allegations of inappropriate behaviour very seriously and all substantive allegations are investigated."

In another clip from the three-minute video, Harry pretends to make a mobile phone call to Queen Elizabeth.

He says: "Granny, I've got to go. Send my love to the corgis. And Grandpa... Bye. God save you. Yeah, that's great. See you, bye."

Harry, the youngest son of Prince Charles and the late princess Diana, has sought to shake off his 'playboy prince' reputation and is heavily involved in a charity in Lesotho to support children orphaned by Aids.

AFP