London, Oct 28 (IANS) Atul Patel, the Indian-origin head of a leading British housing association, has laughed off a joke about his surname cracked by the gaffe-prone husband of the British monarch.
The chief executive of LHA-ASRA said he took “no offence” at Prince Philip’s comments, which, according to The Sun newspaper, were made at a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace Oct 13.

Patel was among 400 Indian-origin achievers lined up to be greeted by the royal couple at the reception held in advance of President Pratibha Patil’s Oct 27-29 visit to Britain.

According to The Sun, when the prince reached Patel, he looked at his name badge and said: “There’s a lot of your family in tonight.”

The 670,000 Patels living in Britain make it the country’s 24th most common name.

However, ‘Inside Housing’ magazine Tuesday quote Patel as saying: “I took no offence whatsoever to the comment made by Prince Philip.

“I do not consider it a gaffe and took it in the light-hearted spirit in which it was intended.”

Britain and India had developed a closer relationship over the last 20 years, he said, adding: “Much of this is very clearly down to the tireless work undertaken by the Queen and Prince Philip across all the countries of the Commonwealth.”

“As a British Indian who has lived in this country for 43 years, I am proud to call it my home,” he said.