News In the Sun

Britain’s ambassador to Madrid, Giles Paxman, has apologised to Spain after the Royal Navy fired on a buoy painted in the red and yellow of the Spanish flag during target practice off Gibraltar. 

The incident was brought to light by a Guardia Civil vessel, which reported seeing the Royal Navy’s fast patrol boat, Scimitar, firing at the Spanish colours during a naval exercise in international waters.

Fifty-eight-year-old Ambassador Paxman appears to have been thrown in at the deep end when he was summoned to Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, less than a month after taking up his position.

Giles, the younger brother of BBC pundit Jeremy Paxman, insisted that the flag on top of the target buoy was not the Spanish flag.

However, apologised for what he described as, “a lack of judgement” on the part of Britain’s Royal Navy.

In London, the Ministry of Defence acknowledged the resemblance between the Spanish national flag and the signal marker chosen for the routine exercise. Both have two red horizontal stripes separated by yellow.

However, a spokesman said the similarity had not been deliberate.

Published on November 21st, 2009 Please leave your comments on the article or letter to the editor on this subject using the form below. All comments are vetted. ... or Share on Facebook