Prince Philip: 'Just too many people to feed'

By Patrick Sawer
The Telegraph
May. 14, 2008

The Duke of Edinburgh says global overpopulation is to blame for rapidly rising food prices.

In an interview for a documentary with Sir Trevor McDonald, he says: "The food prices are going up – everyone thinks it's to do with not enough food, but it's really that demand is too great, too many people."

The Duke adds: "It's a little embarrassing for everybody, no one quite knows how to handle it. Nobody wants their family life to be interfered with by the government."

He says that overpopulation is to blame for many of the problems afflicting millions of people around the world.

The comments will spark renewed debate about population growth and birth control, and refocus attention on the Duke as a figure of controversy.

Sir Trevor was granted unparalleled access over several months to the Duke, who, while playing a central role in Britain's monarchy since his marriage to the Queen more than 60 years ago, has remained something of an enigma.

The film paints an intimate portrait of the Duke and his dedication to conservation.

In it he condemns the present preoccupation with animal rights at the expense of "hard-hearted" decisions about the conservation of species.

The Duke: A Portrait of Prince Philip, is to be shown in two parts on ITV Sunday and Tuesday at 9pm.