This Painful Ad for a Chinese Cab Co. Mocking the Royal Family Is Creating Quite the Controversy

File this one under "It seemed like a funny idea at the time..."

A promotional ad from a Chinese cultural exchange program is ruffling feathers. British citizens and fans of the Royal family are expressing outrage at the two-minute clip that uses look-a-likes of Prince William, Duchess Kate Middleton, and Queen Elizabeth II.

The ads are promoting a fleet of 50 cabs in London that have been decorated with giant pandas to promote the Chengdu Association for Cultural Exchange.  Chengdu is the place in China where the giant panda-breeding program has achieved considerable success and is now a popular tourist attraction. The cabs are hoping to bring more visitors to the region.

In the promotional video, the script seems to make the Duchess of Cambridge look like a gold-digger. When the trio decide to take a taxi to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration, the faux Duchess protests:

 “I just don’t understand why we cannot take the royal limo. I didn’t marry ­royalty to schlep around in a taxi.”

But it doesn't end there. After "William" informs his new bride that taking a cab would set a fine example in these difficult economic times, "Kate" again reacts sternly:

 “Rubbish, people want to see that they can be like us if they just work hard”.

The fake Queen's reaction is also adding fuel to the fire.

Watch the  entire clip here:

In response to some of the negative reaction, the Chengdu Association for Cultural Exchange is holding to their statement that their ad is "harmless fun." What do you think? Is it offensive to the British monarchy? Weigh in below.