Thursday, October 19, 2006

Is that ruddy well it !?

Latvia, Baltic States - Prince Philip was left completely embarrassed,Wednesday, at a Royal engagement in Latvia when he forgot the words to the British National Anthem during a State luncheon.

Philip, 85, accompanied his wife Queen Elizabeth to a State luncheon at the House of the Blackheads, in Latvia's capital, Riga, where "God Save the Queen" was played before the commencement of the meal.

At the end of the traditional one-verse version of the anthem, the Prince sat down and started to take a sip of his drink, with several guests following suit. Prince Philip, however, was forced to leap to his feet as the recording of the Latvian choir launched into the second verse of the song, which has five verses in total.

The Duke of Edinburgh bit his lip to hide his amusement as the second verse was sung, followed by a repeat of the first verse.

When the rendition was over Prince Philip joked, "Is that all?" The Prince's comment forced British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett to stifle a giggle.

The Prince is currently joining his wife on her first Royal tour of the Baltic States - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

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