Another 'Sooty' leaps to Prince Charles' defence in racial row

London, Jan 16 (ANI): A black chauffer nicknamed 'Sooty', who knows Prince Charles, has said that the Royal had no racist intention in calling an Asian polo pal "sooty".

The Royal family found themselves caught up in a race row after it emerged the Prince of Wales has been calling referring to Kolin Dhillon by the moniker for years whenever they meet at Cirencester Polo club where they are both members.

And now, Mike Edwards, 47, who has a white mother and Jamaican father, has come up to the Prince's defence.

"There's nothing racist about him calling his polo chum Sooty," the Sun quoted him as saying.

Mike, who has met Charles three times on farm visits near his base in Cambridge, has claimed that he gave himself the "affectionate" moniker.

The dad of two added: "If someone is happy to be called Sooty by friends, that's their choice. It's nothing to do with people looking in from outside. To me the word Sooty generates visions of a cuddly, cute furry bear." (ANI)