Prince Philip asks east London community group: 'Who do you sponge off?'

 
Remark: Prince Philip (Picture: Getty)
Rachel Blundy16 July 2015

Prince Philip was the subject of yet another hilarious gaffe today after he asked members of an east London community group: "Who do you sponge off?"

The Duke of Edinburgh made the blunder as he spoke to women from the Chadwell Heath Community Centre during a visit with the Queen.

But thankfully community centre trustee Nusrat Zamir appeared to laugh off the remark, which was apparently a reference to the 'Eastenders' stereotype of jobless benefits claimants.

Commenting on their conversation, the founder of the Chadwell Heath Asian Women's Network told the Press Association: "The Duke said to us 'who do you sponge off?' We're all married so it's our husbands.

Royal visit: the Queen with Prince Philip at the Chadwell Heath Community Centre (Picture: Getty)

"He was just teasing and it's similar to what I call my husband - the wallet."

She continued: "He also said to us 'do you meet to have a gossip?'

"It's a familiar question, a lot of people say what the Duke said but we do a lot of work. When we organised a fair in March that took a lot of organising and time."

The Duke was in Barking and Dagenham with the Queen today as part of a celebration to mark the borough's 50th anniversary.

The royal couple chatted freely with guests invited to the volunteer-run centre, which opened in September.

It provides a library and hosts a range of services from exercise activities, literacy lessons for children and mother and child classes.

Last week the Duke was mocked after he appeared to swear at an RAF photographer during a photocall with Battle of Britain veterans.

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