Prince Philip gaffes have made his 50 years in the spotlight entertainment

AS Prince Philip retires, one thing is for sure. The public will miss his gaffes that have made his 50 years in the spotlight so entertaining.

ONE thing is for sure, the public will miss the Prince Philip gaffes that have made his 50 years in the public spotlight so entertaining.

Buckingham Palace announced in May that the Prince will be retiring from active duty and stepping into semi-retirement. Today, he makes his final public appearance.

While at a visit to a new medical cardiac centre in February 2013 the duke was greeted by staff and remarked “the Philippines must be half empty — you’re all here running the (NHS National Health Service)”.

During a visit to Australia in 2002, he famously asked an Aborigine “Do you still throw spears at each other?”

RELATED: Tracey Grimshaw’s right royal faux pas

Prince Phillip is well known for his gaffes. Picture: Getty

At a state visit in China in 1986 he told a group of visiting British students: “If you stay here much longer you’ll all be slitty-eyed”.

In 1996 after the horrific Dunblane massacre he dismissed calls for tighter gun control with an unfortunate and graphic comparison.

“If a cricketer, for instance, suddenly decided to go into a school and batter a lot of people to death with a cricket bat, which he could do very easily, I mean, are you going to ban cricket bats?” He went onto say there was no evidence people who used guns for sport were any more dangerous that people who used golf clubs, tennis rackets or cricket bats.

In 1993 during a meeting with the World Wildlife Fund, the Duke stunned guests with a strange review of Cantonese cuisine.

Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip (L) watch Tjapukai Aborigines light a ceremonial fire during a cultural performance near Cairns in 2002. Picture: AFP

“If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not an aeroplane and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it,” he said.

In 2003 he told Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo his ceremonial dress looked like pyjamas and told him “you look like you are ready for bed”.

When the Queen once asked a blind army hero how much sight he had, Prince Philip responded “not a lot judging by the tie he’s wearing”. It was designed as a light hearted moment, to put the man at ease and it did although made a palace uneasy.

Impatient as ever, in 2015 he was overheard telling an official photographer “just take the f***ing picture” during a Battle of Britain photo call.

Other gaffes included: “Oh no, I might catch some ghastly disease.” - After being asked to pat a koala in Australia in 1992.

“You managed not to get eaten, then?” - Suggesting a student who had been trekking in Papua New Guinea in 1998 was at risk of cannibalism.

Queen Elizabeth II visits the Great Wall of China with Prince Philip. Picture: AFP

“Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf.” - Speaking to a group of deaf children standing next to a steel drum band in Wales in 1999.

“You’re too fat to be an astronaut.” - To 13-year-old aspiring astronaut Andrew Adams, Salford 2001.

“Ah, so this is feminist corner then.” - Joining a group of female Labour MPs at a Buckingham Palace drinks party in 2000 wearing name badges reading ‘Ms’.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo toasts with Prince Philip at the State House in Abuja in December 2003. Picture: AFP

“Are we going to need ear plugs?” - After being told Madonna was singing the Die another Day theme song in 2002.

“How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?” - To a Scottish driving instructor in 1995.

I declare this thing open, whatever it is.” - On a 1969 visit to Canada.

Prince Philip speaks with Andrew Adams at space travel display at Salford University in July 2001. Picture: News Corp

“I’m just a bloody amoeba.” - On the Queen’s decision that their children should be called Windsor, not Mountbatten.

“Yak, yak, yak; come on get a move on.” - To the Queen, shouted from the deck of Britannia in Belize in 1994 as she spoke to guests.