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Thursday 11 July 2013 - 08:01

Court blocks publication of interfering letters by Prince Charles

Story Code : 281892
Court blocks publication of interfering letters by Prince Charles
Prince Charles is required to be politically neutral but cabinet minister have conceded that his letters to them contained “most deeply held personal views and beliefs” on matters he should avoid.
 
Attorney general Dominic Grieve had earlier vetoed the publication of the letters and on Tuesday England and Wales’s top judge Lord Judge ruled that Grieve’s move has been appropriate.
 
The attorney general had vetoed the publication of the 27 letters under the pretence that it would damage the public trust in his political neutrality, especially in his capacity as the future ruler of Britain.
 
"This risk will arise if, through these letters, the Prince of Wales was viewed by others as disagreeing with government policy. Any such perception would be seriously damaging to his role as future monarch because if he forfeits his position of political neutrality as heir to the throne he cannot easily recover it when he is king," Grieve had said.
 
Charles has been repeatedly accused of meddling in the government’s decision-making.
 
The letters were apparently sent to call ministers to Charles’ residence Clarence House before 2005 to discuss his pet subjects.
 
According to Alistair Campbell, the spin-doctor of the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Charles' interference reached a point that Blair complained he wants to “scr**” the Labour government and raised the issue with the Queen.
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