bbc:
A former Polish war refugee who met Prince Charles in Canada has said he likened some Nazi actions in Europe to those of Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Marienne Ferguson was speaking after meeting Prince Charles at a Nova Scotia immigration museum where she works.
As they discussed Hitler's takeover of countries, the prince "said something to the effect of 'it's not unlike... what Putin is doing,'" she recalled.
Clarence House said it would not comment on a private conversation.
The prince is due to meet the Russian president for D-Day anniversary celebrations in France next month.
Speaking from China, President Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov told the BBC he was "not commenting right now" on the remarks.
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Analysis
By Peter Hunt, BBC Royal correspondent
It was, Marienne Ferguson told the BBC, "just a little remark. I didn't think it was going to make such a big uproar".
It has had significant ramifications because it was uttered by a man who will one day be head of state.
The British monarchy is in a period of subtle transition. Prince Charles is, slowly, taking on more of his 88-year-old mother's workload. As a result, there's a renewed focus on the type of king he will become.
Privately, Charles - a passionate prince - probably won't be too bothered that he's highlighted the actions of President Putin.
Others at Buckingham Palace and the UK Foreign Office are likely to be less sanguine.
And his critics - he has plenty for a person who'll one day occupy a unifying role - will see this as yet another example of an unelected hereditary heir meddling when he shouldn't.
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He should of course know one when he sees one. His son was some years ago photographed wearing a Nazi uniform with a swastika armband at a party.
Wearing a Nazi uniform at a costume party makes one's actions comparable to Nazis? Good to know.