I will be more careful with my words. I try to make jokes, sometimes - now you know I am bad at them - and it's gotten me into trouble, since people have taken me too seriously for such things.

[ the other half of it being: he is a prince, and he really shouldn't be careless with what he says, even if that doesn't apply here anymore. ]

It is not your fault. I was being too cavalier with my words, and ought to have known better.