Prince Charles office says he has a right to contact gov’t on policy

Amid criticisms of the British heir to the throne’s meddling in politics, his office has announced he has a right to contact government officials privately and “on any matter he chooses”.

Official records show Prince Charles has held at least 36 private meetings with cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister David Cameron himself, to discuss policy since the coalition government took office in May 2010.

Charles has met Cameron seven times while he has held talks with Cameron’s ministers dozens of times to discuss matters “he chooses”, the Daily Mail reported.

This is while the prince 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.

Revelations of Charles’s meddling are so blatant that the anti-monarchy campaign group the Republic said he has turned into “a political operator and businessman with direct access to government”.

However, his office, Clarence House, said in a statement that Charles is being helpful to the government and has a duty to do so.

“The Prince of Wales has a right, indeed it is his duty, to communicate privately with the government on any matter he chooses, to bring his unique perspective and reflect the many issues people raise with him personally on his extensive engagements around the country,” the statement said.

“… it is inevitable that HRH (the prince) may, at times, see some ministers more than others … ministers from successive governments have found that he brings important insights, perspectives and knowledge built over 40 years of experience in a range of areas aimed at transforming lives and building sustainable communities,” it added.

There have been repeated calls for the publication of the content of Charles’s letters to ministers or meetings with them, as it is the norm when they meet other officials.

However, the high court vetoed such pleas last month saying the public have no right to know how the prince has tried to change government policy.