Prince Philip Denies Calling Simon Cowell A "Sponger"

Britain's Prince Philip has denied calling Simon Cowell a "sponger." The "American Idol" judge claimed the prince made the comment when they met at 2007's Royal Variety Show, but the prince insists he does not know Simon well enough to pass judgment on him.

View Photos [44]
View Profile
View All News

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Duke of Edinburgh categorically did not call Mr. Cowell a sponger. He has no reason to. He has said he does not know enough about Mr. Cowell to make any sort of comment about him."

"Mr. Cowell may have misheard the Duke, he has a very soft voice."

Speaking on talk show "The Tonight Show" recently, Simon claimed: "At the end, if you are involved in it, you have to stand around for hours and then say hello. Queen Elizabeth ignored me and her husband called me a sponger. It was a bit embarrassing. It was a bit awkward."

The spokesman has also denied the queen was rude to Simon, insisting: "The queen doesn't ignore people. She has many people to meet after such a show."

However, Simon's claims have been backed up by Piers Morgan, his fellow judge on TV talent show "Britain's Got Talent."

Piers said: "I can categorically say it happened. If we all have to trudge off to court, I'm available."

Piers also described the encounter in his upcoming book "God Bless America: Misadventures Of A Big Mouth Brit."

Remembering the encounter with Prince Philip, Piers wrote: "'You're judges, is that right?' asked Prince Philip. 'Yes, sir,' I replied. 'So,' he chuckled, looking back at Cowell before pointing to show winner Paul Potts, 'you sponge off him then?'"

"An hour later I was sitting in Cowell's sumptuous private jet heading back from Liverpool, where the show had been held, to London with our fellow judge, Amanda Holden. 'Perfect night,' I said. 'The queen didn't know you, and Philip called you a sponger.'"