He's Done It Again! Prince Philip Makes Yet Another Public Gaffe

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The Duke of Edinburgh was accompanying the Queen on a visit to the Chadwell Heath Community Centre when he attempted to make small talk with attendees.

The 95-year-old sidled up to a group of women at the centre and asked: “Who do you sponge off?”

Nusrat Zamir, who founded the Chadwell Heath Asian Women’s Network told the Mirror: “The Duke said to us ‘Who do you sponge off? We’re married so it’s our husbands.

“He was just teasing and it’s similar to what I call my husband – the wallet.”

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The elderly Duke continued his efforts to make small talk by asking: “Do you meet to have a gossip?” and then asked one professional fundraiser: “Do you have any friends left?”

The Prince is known for his colourful turn of phrase.

Last year he quipped “at least you are all legitimate” at a family planning centre and the year before he made the headlines for joking about a toddler being knocked off an inflatable toy.

The Duke was on a visit to St Michael's Care Complex in the market town of Aylsham, when he spotted a little girl sitting on an inflatable ball.

“Do you get bonus points if you knock her off?” he asked.