Prince Charles comes out fighting in row over his political role
by REBECCA ENGLISH
12th March 2007
Prince Charles angrily denied claims that his wide-spread 'political meddling' has made him unfit to rule
Point by point, the royal rebuttal.
Prince Charles last night angrily denied claims that his wide-spread 'political meddling' has made him unfit to rule.
In an unprecedented 33-page statement, the heir to the throne definitely insisted he has a right to share his views on issues of national importance with Government ministers and revealed that he will not sit around 'just waiting to be king'.
Charles was goaded into making his feelings known by allegations, due to be broadcast in a television documentary tonight, that he could plunge Britain into a constitutional crisis if he continues to interfere in matters of state.
But he insisted that he knows his constitutional obligations and that while he is currently entitled to make his views known on a range of public policy issues, his behaviour will change when he ascends the throne.
"It hardly needs saying that the Prince of Wales, of all people, knows that the role and duties of the heir to the throne are different to those of the sovereign and that his role and the way he contributes to national life will change when he becomes King, "his private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, said.
The Channel Four Dispatches programme entitled 'Charles - The Meddling Prince', accuses the Prince of sending a 'barrage' of letters to Government ministers on 'pet' projects such as human rights legislation, complementary healthcare and modern farming methods.
It claims that the Prince's persistent lobbying flouts constitutional tradition that the monarchy should remain politically neutral and is putting the future of the institution at risk.
While Charles strongly denies the claim that his actions are politically motivated, he also makes clear that he is reluctant to relinquish his role as a 'royal rebel'.
The document, which is formally attributed to his Private Secretary but gives an extraordinary insight into the mind of the heir to the throne himself, says: "The Prince of Wales's approach...is that of someone who cares deeply about the well-being of the United Kingdom and everyone in it, and who wants to add value to his position by helping people and making a difference for the better.
"Part of this is.....ensuring that views held by many people which otherwise might not be heard receive some exposure; however, His Royal Highness is always very careful to ensure that he is not politically contentious or party political, and as far as I am aware even his most ardent critic has never suggested that he is.
"With respect to views expressed privately to Ministers and others, rather than being 'abuse' it is generally accepted that the Heir to the Throne should be aware of the business of Government."
And Sir Michael adds: "It is misconceived and entirely hypothetical to suggest that problems will result if The Prince of Wales fulfils his role in the same way when King. He will not.
"The roles of the Sovereign and the Heir to the Throne are different and while The Queen as Head of State has a clearly defined role, The Prince of Wales as Heir to the Throne does not.
"Some people....seem to suggest that His Royal Highness should not seek to participate in and make an active contribution to national life, but just wait to become King.
"However most people feel that in a value added age this would represent a failure to take advantage of His Royal Highness' position to help people and make a difference for the better."
Relations between Charles and the Government have become increasingly strained in recent years.
His views on GM foods, the Iraq war, fox hunting and foot and mouth disease, among others, have infuriated many ministers and his 'Black Spider' memos (so called because of his sprawling handwriting) have become infamous in Downing Street.
Last year his former Mark Bolland, who was Deputy Private Secretary to the Prince for six years, said Charles saw himself as "political dissident" whose job it was to oppose government policy.
Tonight's programme quotes Lord Haskins, who led the Rural Recovery Task in the weight of the foot-and-mouth crisis, saying: "Many of them (ministers) think they have to give a disproportionate amount of time to listening to his point of view and they certainly see him as a lobbyist.
"That he has his own agenda and they know that he is trying to use his position to influence policy."
Cross-bench peer Lord Wedderburn QC adds: "The Queen's behaved throughout her reign as a constitutional monarch who does not interfere regularly at all with policies and the like.
"She meets the Prime Minister regularly and they have conversations which are completely confidential to them. The Prince of Wales has not acted in that way.
"In fact, we know what the Prince thinks about more or less everything."
But last night Sir Michael insisted: "All agree that The Prince of Wales should be politically neutral and it has been a remarkable achievement by The Prince during the past thirty-five years or so to contribute so much in so many areas, particularly through his charitable activities, without any suggestion at any time that he has been anything other than politically neutral."
READERS' COMMENTS
Many years ago this fella kept going on about organic produce and 'old fashioned' farming techniques and people laughed at him. Now its in every supermarket and that fella was Prince Charles.
Why shouldn't he be allowed to have an opinion? Afraid he might be right!
- Karen Winter, Ilkeston
---------------------------
I would vote for Prince Charles any day, against any of the Policital idiots, all parties, currently in Parliament.
- Karen, USA (ex pat)
---------------------------
Why deny Prince Charles the rights and freedom to criticise that the rest of us enjoy. If HRH thinks that there is a problem, then let him bring the matter to light. Unlike we prols, who only ever get patronising, procratinating answers,(If we are lucky!) at least he might be able to do something about getting the matter put right. More power to your elbow Sir.
- D.Walker, Burnley England
-------------------------------
dailymail.co.uk
by REBECCA ENGLISH
12th March 2007
Prince Charles angrily denied claims that his wide-spread 'political meddling' has made him unfit to rule
Point by point, the royal rebuttal.
Prince Charles last night angrily denied claims that his wide-spread 'political meddling' has made him unfit to rule.
In an unprecedented 33-page statement, the heir to the throne definitely insisted he has a right to share his views on issues of national importance with Government ministers and revealed that he will not sit around 'just waiting to be king'.
Charles was goaded into making his feelings known by allegations, due to be broadcast in a television documentary tonight, that he could plunge Britain into a constitutional crisis if he continues to interfere in matters of state.
But he insisted that he knows his constitutional obligations and that while he is currently entitled to make his views known on a range of public policy issues, his behaviour will change when he ascends the throne.
"It hardly needs saying that the Prince of Wales, of all people, knows that the role and duties of the heir to the throne are different to those of the sovereign and that his role and the way he contributes to national life will change when he becomes King, "his private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, said.
The Channel Four Dispatches programme entitled 'Charles - The Meddling Prince', accuses the Prince of sending a 'barrage' of letters to Government ministers on 'pet' projects such as human rights legislation, complementary healthcare and modern farming methods.
It claims that the Prince's persistent lobbying flouts constitutional tradition that the monarchy should remain politically neutral and is putting the future of the institution at risk.
While Charles strongly denies the claim that his actions are politically motivated, he also makes clear that he is reluctant to relinquish his role as a 'royal rebel'.
The document, which is formally attributed to his Private Secretary but gives an extraordinary insight into the mind of the heir to the throne himself, says: "The Prince of Wales's approach...is that of someone who cares deeply about the well-being of the United Kingdom and everyone in it, and who wants to add value to his position by helping people and making a difference for the better.
"Part of this is.....ensuring that views held by many people which otherwise might not be heard receive some exposure; however, His Royal Highness is always very careful to ensure that he is not politically contentious or party political, and as far as I am aware even his most ardent critic has never suggested that he is.
"With respect to views expressed privately to Ministers and others, rather than being 'abuse' it is generally accepted that the Heir to the Throne should be aware of the business of Government."
And Sir Michael adds: "It is misconceived and entirely hypothetical to suggest that problems will result if The Prince of Wales fulfils his role in the same way when King. He will not.
"The roles of the Sovereign and the Heir to the Throne are different and while The Queen as Head of State has a clearly defined role, The Prince of Wales as Heir to the Throne does not.
"Some people....seem to suggest that His Royal Highness should not seek to participate in and make an active contribution to national life, but just wait to become King.
"However most people feel that in a value added age this would represent a failure to take advantage of His Royal Highness' position to help people and make a difference for the better."
Relations between Charles and the Government have become increasingly strained in recent years.
His views on GM foods, the Iraq war, fox hunting and foot and mouth disease, among others, have infuriated many ministers and his 'Black Spider' memos (so called because of his sprawling handwriting) have become infamous in Downing Street.
Last year his former Mark Bolland, who was Deputy Private Secretary to the Prince for six years, said Charles saw himself as "political dissident" whose job it was to oppose government policy.
Tonight's programme quotes Lord Haskins, who led the Rural Recovery Task in the weight of the foot-and-mouth crisis, saying: "Many of them (ministers) think they have to give a disproportionate amount of time to listening to his point of view and they certainly see him as a lobbyist.
"That he has his own agenda and they know that he is trying to use his position to influence policy."
Cross-bench peer Lord Wedderburn QC adds: "The Queen's behaved throughout her reign as a constitutional monarch who does not interfere regularly at all with policies and the like.
"She meets the Prime Minister regularly and they have conversations which are completely confidential to them. The Prince of Wales has not acted in that way.
"In fact, we know what the Prince thinks about more or less everything."
But last night Sir Michael insisted: "All agree that The Prince of Wales should be politically neutral and it has been a remarkable achievement by The Prince during the past thirty-five years or so to contribute so much in so many areas, particularly through his charitable activities, without any suggestion at any time that he has been anything other than politically neutral."
READERS' COMMENTS
Many years ago this fella kept going on about organic produce and 'old fashioned' farming techniques and people laughed at him. Now its in every supermarket and that fella was Prince Charles.
Why shouldn't he be allowed to have an opinion? Afraid he might be right!
- Karen Winter, Ilkeston
---------------------------
I would vote for Prince Charles any day, against any of the Policital idiots, all parties, currently in Parliament.
- Karen, USA (ex pat)
---------------------------
Why deny Prince Charles the rights and freedom to criticise that the rest of us enjoy. If HRH thinks that there is a problem, then let him bring the matter to light. Unlike we prols, who only ever get patronising, procratinating answers,(If we are lucky!) at least he might be able to do something about getting the matter put right. More power to your elbow Sir.
- D.Walker, Burnley England
-------------------------------
dailymail.co.uk