Royal Family mourns the death of close friend who was once the centre of racial controversy

Kuldip Singh Dhillon, also known by the anglicised name Kolin, used to play polo with the then-Prince Charles and his two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Who was Kuldip Singh Dhillon?

Dhillon was a wealthy property developer and served as chairman of the Cirencester Park Polo Club for four years between 2012 and 2016. The Club is located in the vicinity of King Charles’ Highgrove estate.

According to India Today, Dhillon moved to the UK from India in 1995 when he was four years old. He had lived most of his life in the UK in Gloucestershire and is said to have met Camilla Parker-Bowles and her first husband, Andrew, in the 1970s.

He was a close friend of King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, with whom he played polo. It is said that he once commented on how ‘talented’ a polo player Prince Harry was.

The Sun reports that the property developer passed away while on a trip to India earlier this week. The former general manager of the Cirencester Polo Club has expressed his shock at learning of Dhillon’s passing. He said:

We're extremely sad - he will be missed enormously. He was a huge character around here, and we all loved him dearly.

Before adding:

He was only 72 and in good health, so it's come as quite a shock to all of us here at the Polo Club.

Embroiled in a race row

In 2009, Dhillon and Prince Charles found themselves at the centre of a race row when it came to light that the then-Prince of Wales ‘affectionately’ called his Indian-born polo-playing friend ‘Sooty’.

At the time, Clarence House issued the following statement:

No one has been more of an advocate for the understanding and tolerance of various religious and ethnic groups than the Prince of Wales and his track record speaks volumes on this issue.

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Speaking of the nickname, Graham Smith, from the anti-monarchy organisation Republic, said:

I think it goes to show the royal family are not a symbol of unity, it's not something we can rally around, they're quite divisive. People are saying they are not racist but on the evidence in the public domain I think that's to the contrary.

However, Dhillon himself defended the nickname, saying he felt ‘no offence’to being called ‘Sooty’ by his friends, deeming the nickname a mark of acceptance. He went so far as to say:

I enjoy being called Sooty by my friends.

He called the then-Prince Charles ‘a man of zero prejudice’ and said the young Princes treated him with nothing but respect.

Sources used:

- The Sun: 'HONOUR HIS MEMORY' Close pal of Charles, William and Harry dies suddenly at 72 in huge blow to royals

- Independent: Prince Charles 'calls Asian friend Sooty'

- India Today: Prince Charles calls Indian polo player 'Sooty', he doesn't mind

- Evening Standard: Princes call polo friend Sooty 'and he doesn't take offence'