Prince William has faced backlash over comments about war in Africa and Asia.
The Duke of Cambridge said that the conflict which Ukraine is currently facing is “alien” to Europe, unlike conflicts that other continents have seen.
The Duke and Duchess recently met with volunteers at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in London, who were helping to fill lorries with supplies to aid humanitarian relief efforts as the Russian invasion of Ukraine sadly marked its third week.
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Speaking at the centre, the 39-year-old royal said: "Everyone is horrified by what they are seeing. It’s really horrifying. The news every day, it’s just, it’s almost unfathomable.
"For our generation, it’s very alien to see this in Europe. We’re all right behind you. We’re thinking about you. We feel so useless."
Prince William’s comments have since backfired, with social media users calling him out for being “racist”, as well as failing to recognise the British empire’s history of war, as well as more recent conflicts in the EU.
Human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid said of the comments: “Prince William says conflict is ‘very alien’ to Europe, unlike Asia & Africa.
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“How do you have a 1,000-year history of colonialism, a literal 100-year war, launch 2 World Wars, allow multiple genocides, & bomb a dozen nations since 9/11 alone—yet make this type of a statement,” he wrote.
Another social media user, author Omid Scobie wrote that he was “unsurprised to see backlash” against the royal.
“Europe has seen some of the bloodiest conflict in the past two centuries—Balkans, Yugoslavia, Germany and Kosovo to name a few. But sure, let’s normalise war and death in Africa and Asia.”
“So after your ancestors, Prince William, stole, colonised, caused genocide, on so many lands. You decided to make this statement. Your country was built on wars. It’s literally your history,” a different user wrote.
“I wouldn’t mind all the Caribbean countries just cancel your trip,” the user continued, referring to the fact that William and Kate are set to visit Jamaica, Bahamas and Belize later this month.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy Stock PhotoTopics: Royal Family, Ukraine, Russia, Army, World News
