Prince Harry is "guilty of racism which upsets and offends many British Asians," the leader of a Muslim youth organisation said today.

The Royal has also been condemned by senior politicians, who said that his remarks about an Army colleague were “offensive”.

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said the Prince’s reference to an Asian member of his platoon as “our little Paki friend” was “obviously completely unacceptable.” Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the remarks, caught on camera, “will have caused considerable offence”.

St James Palace has said Harry - third in line to the throne - was using a nickname for a friend and the comment was made without any malice. An apology from the Prince was issued last night.

But today Mohammed Shafiq, director of Muslim youth organisation the Ramadan Foundation, said Harry’s comments would offend many Asians.

“The use of this sort of racism has no justification and I am saddened by those that are advocating using this term is not racist.

“Prince Harry, as a public figure, must ensure that he promotes equality and tolerance and this rant, whether today or three years ago, is sickening and he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.”

This morning Mr Cameron became the first senior politician to comment on the race row, during an interview with Andrew Marr on the BBC. “It is obviously a completely unacceptable thing to say and it is right that he has apologised,” he said.

“I think that it is important in the great institutions, whether it is the Army or whether it is political parties, we have had to root out attitudes...and that has to go right across the institutions.”

Asked if Harry should be reprimanded he said: “No he has made an apology, I think it is important he is clear about that and I think that is enough.”

Mr Clegg told the Sunday Live programme on Sky News: “He shouldn’t have used those words. It will have caused considerable offence and has obviously caused him a considerable amount of embarrassment. He has apologised, quite rightly, and I think we should now move on.”

Asked if he would fire a member of his senior team for using such comments he said: “I would almost certainly have to, yes. But it is not a question of whether Prince Harry can be fired, he has apologised, he has apologised profusely. I think we now have got to draw line under it, but it has obviously caused considerable offence.”

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