Palace slams Coke ads for Euro 2000

US soft drinks giant Coca-Cola has been criticised by Buckingham Palace for being “short of creative ideas” and using the British national anthem in its new Euro 2000 advertising campaign.

The ad, made by Publicis in the UK, depicts a young boy, dressed in England kit, running into the street and standing to attention. He is joined by thousands of other supporters and the England team in singing the national anthem.

But a Palace spokesman says the ad, which supports Coke’s official sponsorship of the Euro 2000 football championships, shows a distinct “lapse of creative thinking”.

He adds: “There is nothing to stop anyone using the anthem because it is out of copyright.”

But Coca-Cola spokeswoman refutes the charge: “This ad has been commissioned by Coca-Cola GB, which has supported football in this country for almost 20 years. We are simply getting English people behind the England team.”