Ray Martin reveals his nightmare interview with an ‘arrogant’ royal

Ray Martin has opened up about his memorable interview with Prince Philip in 1981, in which the late royal’s ‘arrogant’ behaviour left him blindsided.

The veteran journalist spoke to Prince Philip for 60 Minutes about his then-role as president of the World Wildlife Fund, saying he was unimpressed by his demeanour.

‘I didn’t like him – he was quite priggish and arrogant, and that confirmed all my worst suspicions of the royals,’ Martin, 78, told the I’ve Got News for You podcast.

‘It was strictly about World Wildlife; we couldn’t talk about anything else,’ he added. 

In the interview, Martin asked Philip about the Royal Family ‘getting involved in political issues’ through his work with the WWF.

The veteran journalist spoke to Prince Philip (pictured) for 60 Minutes about his then-role as president of the World Wildlife Fund, saying he was unimpressed by his demeanour 

‘It’s almost impossible to avoid politics if you open your mouth at all, short of saying rhubarb, because practically every issue is political,’ Philip responded.

While he didn’t warm to the Duke of Edinburgh, Martin found his son King Charles III to be the complete opposite when he interviewed him in 1994.

He described the young prince as friendly and humble, adding that his affable manner won over the entire Channel Nine crew.

‘He went out of his way to be nice and polite to our team… He certainly made it easy for all of us. I went away thinking, “You’re not a bad bloke,”‘ Martin said.

‘I didn’t like him – he was quite priggish and arrogant, and that confirmed all my worst suspicions of the royals,’ Martin, 78, told the I’ve Got News for You podcast 

Martin is one of Australia’s most iconic TV journalists, with a career spanning more than 50 years. 

He previously spoke to Stellar magazine about his incredible career and his three favourite interview subjects, whom he called his ‘holy trinity’.

‘Sir Donald Bradman. I’m a cricket nut… it was like I’d died and gone to heaven,’ he said of his first pick, referring to the legendary batsman, who died in 2001.

He also listed Professor Fred Hollows and Sir David Attenborough, who ‘became good friends of mine, which doesn’t happen much in our business’. 

Martin is a five-time Gold Logie winner best known for hosting The Midday Show, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes for Nine. 

While he didn’t warm to the Duke of Edinburgh, Martin found his son King Charles III to be the complete opposite when he interviewed him in 1994. (Pictured: the Royal Family in June 2017)