13:06 21 May 2014
A former Polish war refugee who met Prince Charles at a Nova Scotia immigration museum in Canada said he compared Russian actions to Nazis. Marienne Ferguson, who worked at the museum said that as they discussed Hitler’s takeover of countries, the prince "said something to the effect of 'it's not unlike... what Putin is doing.” She also told BBC: "just a little remark. I didn't think it was going to make such a big uproar".
When asked for comment, Clarence House responded by saying it would not comment on a private conversation.
But experts say that Prince Charles comment will have significant ramifications as he is the future head of the state. British Monarchy is in a period of subtle transition as the Prince slowly takes on more of his 88-year-old mother’s workload.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg came to the Prince’s rescue saying it was “clearly a private conversation.”
He told BBC Breakfast: "I have never been of this view that if you are a member of the Royal Family somehow you have to enter into some Trappist vow of silence."