Australian MP to renounce oath after Prince's Nazi gaffe

An Australian politician whose father was held in a German labour camp during the Second World War says he plans to renounce his allegiance to the Queen after seeing a photo of Prince Harry wearing a Nazi swastika.

Henry Palaszczuk, the primary industries minister for northern Queensland state, said he had previously held the Royal Family in high regard. But he was troubled to see Harry, the third in line to the throne, wearing the swastika at a fancy dress party.

Palaszczuk’s Polish father was imprisoned in a German labour camp during the war.

“My father suffered enormously at the hands of the Nazis and the stories he told me were horrific,” he said. “So to see that image was very upsetting.”

Palaszczuk said he would seek to withdraw his allegiance to the Queen – part of the oath of office for Australian MPs – at the start of parliamentary proceedings tomorrow.

Palaszczuk also said Harry’s subsequent apology did not go far enough.

“I don’t think that counts as a real apology,” he said.

“It wasn’t an apology from the heart. It was just the royal spin doctors going into damage control.”