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PICTURED: Philip writes, "They still haven't got over the fact that Britain was not able to protect them from the Japs, in spite of the fact that she was fighting for her life in Europe. Therefore their gratitude to the US is almost excessive."

A hard-hitting letter from Prince Philip taking several pot-shots at Australia has come to light.

The famously forthright Royal said in the 1965 correspondence to British businessman Sir Howard Hartley that its nationalists were unfairly hostile towards Britain yet showed 'almost excessive gratitude' towards the United States.

This, he theorised, was because the US had come to Australia's aid in World War Two, sending its military might to defend them from Japan. However, Philip felt they were overlooking that Britain was 'fighting for its life in Europe'.

In the same letter, which is being sold with International Autograph Auction, he says if Australia did things half as well as Britain or Canada they could 'be pleased with themselves'.

It is not the first time Philip has offended Australians, as when asked to stroke a Koala bear during a visit in 1992, he allegedly said: "Oh no, I might catch some ghastly disease." And in 2002, he reportedly told Aboriginal businessman William Brin: "Do you still throw spears at each other?"