BRITISH authorities have released more private letters from Prince Charles to government ministers on topics ranging from historic buildings to hospital food.
The letters were the subject of a lengthy legal battle that pitted Charles’ right to privacy against the public’s right to know.
The Guardian newspaper had applied to see correspondence between Charles and government departments.
The government refused, arguing that the frank missives reflected the heir to the throne’s personal views and publishing them could undermine the perception of his neutrality.
As king, Charles would be expected to keep out of politics. As prince, he has expressed strong opinions on topics including architecture, genetically modified crops and climate change.
The Supreme Court ruled against the government in March, and a batch of 27 letters was released last month.
The 17 published in The Guardian on Thursday — six from Charles, eight from ministers and three from private secretaries — were written between 2007 and 2009.
They reflect the prince’s well-known views on topics including food in hospitals and affordable rural housing.
In hot water ... As royalty, Prince Charles is expected to keep out of politics, however, his correspondence to numerous ministers might indicate otherwise. Photo: AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool, File Source: AP
In one letter, Charles discusses his support for complementary medicine, which he says he has maintained despite “waves of invective over the years from parts of the Medical and Scientific Establishments”.
Meanwhile, in correspondence to the Secretary of State, he discusses the quality of hospital food and how it can be improved: “Mike [Ducett, the head of catering at Royal Brompton Hospital] says that buying seasonal, fresh (and, wherever possible, organic) food has ensured patients enjoy better quality and more flavourful food, which has retained its natural nutrients and so their health has, of course, benefited.”
Also, passionate about environmental issues, such as climate change and illegal fishing, the Prince took the time to write to politician Douglas Alexander as well as the Minister for the Environment. He wrote: “Incidentally, I am also looking forward to the publication of the Royal Commission’s report on sustainable fishing. I hear on my own grapevine that it may be quite hard-hitting, which can only be a good thing and I just hope that the powers-that-be, and the general public, take note of its findings.”
Yet another speaks of the prince’s concern about historic sites “lying derelict and abandoned by unscrupulous owners”.
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