Britain’s Prince William is following in the footsteps of his gaffe-prone grandfather, Prince Philip, confusing Japanese food with Chinese food during a public appearance on Thursday.
At the opening of the Japan House cultural center in London’s Kensington, near Buckingham Palace, Prince William chatted to school students learning how to use chopsticks, according to footage broadcast in British media.
“Have you guys had much Chinese food?” he asked them, only to be met with an awkward pause.
“Sorry, Japanese food. Have you had much Japanese food?” he said during a tour of Japan House, where he was accompanied by Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso.
It’s the second time in six weeks that a British representative has confused the two countries, which have been rivals since the Japanese occupation of China during World War II and which continue to feud over disputed territory. Read more