Does He Have Ideas Above His Station?

[sandyRoe]

Writing letters in spidery handwriting telling members of the government what they should do. Who does he think he is?
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/supreme-court-clears-way-for-release-of-secret-prince-charles-letters/ar-AAa19p5

[douglas9401]

He thinks he's a very clever boy but he may be somewhat detached from reality.

[Sipowicz]

"Does he have ideas above his station?" Yes, he wants to be King!

[jno]

We all have the right to tell the government what to do. If they listen to him and not to us, that's the government's forelock-tugging fault, not ours.

I don't get the "spider" bit, though: his handwriting is hardly copperplate but it's quite fluent and readable.

[youngmafbog]

He should stay neutral and stay out of it.

It is a disgrace he has attempted to manipulate Government for his own beliefs. All notes/letters must be made public.

[Gromit]

Anyone in the country can write to ministers so why shouldn't the second in line to the throne?
Anyone writing would assume the correspondence was private, and the Government Department would need permission from the writer to publish it.

In terms of transparency, the Governments responses to the letters could and should be available to researchers. That would reveal if Charles had influenced any policy without breaching his person copyright.

[anotheoldgit]

Seems strange that some can be prosecuted and a news paper closed down for revealing such personal information, whereas were others are concerned it is deemed lawful.

On a lighter note why is Prince Charles being propped up by his bow tie?

[youngmafbog]

//Anyone in the country can write to ministers so why shouldn't the second in line to the throne? //

Because he is exactly that: the second in line to the throne, he is not you and I whose letters would be lobbed straight into the bin. He should remain neutral and if he must express an opinion express it publicaly.

[ludwig]

// We all have the right to tell the government what to do. //

He doesn't though - or maybe it's just the Queen doesn't. Same thing really. There was civil war on the issue and royalty lost. I think it's why they ceremonially slam the door in her face when she tries to visit parliament.

It's one of the drawbacks of being a royal, is that you can't use your position to influence government policy, and have to be neutral.

I do sympathise with him though. When you have strong opinions about things it's natural to want to contribute to the debate.

[Gromit]

// He should remain neutral and if he must express an opinion express it publicaly. //

I do not agree he must be neutral. But I agree that any opinion should be publicly made such as his utterences about architecture.

[wolf63]

AOG - it's just a cardboard cut-out of Charlie, it needs to be propped up!

[New Judge]

Just a point of pedantry: the Prince of Wales is first in line to the throne, not second. Prince William is second in line.

[ladyalex]

As his station is second highest in the realm, then it is a bit difficult for him to have ideas very much above it.
But I think he would be wiser to follow his mother's example and warn or advise members of the government verbally and in private.

[sandyRoe]

He is, in my opinion, a grotesque carbuncle on the face of the body politic. He needs to stick to the ceremonial duties and leave politics to the democratically elected

[waterboatman]

He's the future king and has every right to consult politicians. he would, in my opinion, to do it personally, in private and in confidence.

But we all make mistakes, do we not?

[ludwig]

// He is, in my opinion, a grotesque carbuncle on the face of the body politic. He needs to stick to the ceremonial duties and leave politics to the democratically elected //

He says the same about you sandy.

[sandyRoe]

When I get out the green ink to fire off a missive to the PM, I don't-in my heart of hearts- really expect any action to be taken.
Charles probably does.

[naomi24]

We could all write letters to members of the government telling them what they should do - but ours would end up in the bin. If nothing else his letters could make interesting reading.