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| British Supreme Court paves way for Prince Charles letters to be released | British Supreme Court paves way for Prince Charles letters to be released |
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| LONDON — Britain’s highest court cleared the way for private letters written by Prince Charles to government ministers to be made public, the contents of which could prove deeply embarrassing for the royal family and prompt a debate over the proper role of the heir to the British throne. | LONDON — Britain’s highest court cleared the way for private letters written by Prince Charles to government ministers to be made public, the contents of which could prove deeply embarrassing for the royal family and prompt a debate over the proper role of the heir to the British throne. |
| The long-awaited ruling on Thursday by Britain’s Supreme Court caps a 10-year legal battle between the Guardian, a left-leaning British newspaper, and the British government, which fought hard to prevent the letters from seeing the light of day. | The long-awaited ruling on Thursday by Britain’s Supreme Court caps a 10-year legal battle between the Guardian, a left-leaning British newspaper, and the British government, which fought hard to prevent the letters from seeing the light of day. |
| In a short statement, Prince Charles’s press office at Clarence House, his London residence, said that they were “disappointed the principle of privacy has not been upheld." | In a short statement, Prince Charles’s press office at Clarence House, his London residence, said that they were “disappointed the principle of privacy has not been upheld." |
| Within the next month, seven government departments will hand over the letters — known as the “black spider memos” because of the prince’s scrawling handwriting — which will be pored over to gain a better understanding of the mind-set of the heir to the British throne. | Within the next month, seven government departments will hand over the letters — known as the “black spider memos” because of the prince’s scrawling handwriting — which will be pored over to gain a better understanding of the mind-set of the heir to the British throne. |
| Supporters of Prince Charles have argued that the letters could compromise his kingship — as the royal family states on its Web site, “the Sovereign must remain politically neutral.” | Supporters of Prince Charles have argued that the letters could compromise his kingship — as the royal family states on its Web site, “the Sovereign must remain politically neutral.” |
| The publication of the letters could also inflame the debate between royalists and republicans over the role of a modern-day prince and heir to the throne. Unlike his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’s opinions on a variety of topics are well known, like those on genetically modified foods (bad) and classical architecture (good). | The publication of the letters could also inflame the debate between royalists and republicans over the role of a modern-day prince and heir to the throne. Unlike his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’s opinions on a variety of topics are well known, like those on genetically modified foods (bad) and classical architecture (good). |
| [Read more: Prince Charles, Camilla visit the U.S.] | |
| His supporters say he is entitled to private correspondence and that he should be able to voice his views, and that his approach will change once he becomes king. Those campaigning for the disclosure of the letters argued that he could be exploiting his position and that any attempt to influence policy or meddle in government affairs should be made transparent. | His supporters say he is entitled to private correspondence and that he should be able to voice his views, and that his approach will change once he becomes king. Those campaigning for the disclosure of the letters argued that he could be exploiting his position and that any attempt to influence policy or meddle in government affairs should be made transparent. |
| “This is a good day for transparency,” Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian, said in a statement. He added: “The government wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to cover up these letters, admitting their publication would 'seriously damage' perceptions of the Prince's political neutrality. Now they must publish them so that the public can make their own judgment.” | “This is a good day for transparency,” Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian, said in a statement. He added: “The government wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to cover up these letters, admitting their publication would 'seriously damage' perceptions of the Prince's political neutrality. Now they must publish them so that the public can make their own judgment.” |
| This legal saga stretches back to 2005, shortly after the British government introduced Freedom of Information requests and Guardian journalist Rob Evans asked to see the correspondence between Prince Charles and government departments covering a six-month span. | This legal saga stretches back to 2005, shortly after the British government introduced Freedom of Information requests and Guardian journalist Rob Evans asked to see the correspondence between Prince Charles and government departments covering a six-month span. |
| In 2012, the former attorney general Dominic Grieve, who described the letters as “particularly frank,” tried to blocked their publication after a tribunal ruled they should be disclosed to the public. But on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-to-2 decision that Grieve’s attempt to veto the publication of the letters was unlawful. | In 2012, the former attorney general Dominic Grieve, who described the letters as “particularly frank,” tried to blocked their publication after a tribunal ruled they should be disclosed to the public. But on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-to-2 decision that Grieve’s attempt to veto the publication of the letters was unlawful. |
| The correspondence that will be published include 27 letters exchanged between Prince Charles and politicians in former prime minister Tony Blair’s government between September 2004 and April 2005. | The correspondence that will be published include 27 letters exchanged between Prince Charles and politicians in former prime minister Tony Blair’s government between September 2004 and April 2005. |
| They are only a sample of what’s out there. It’s well known that Prince Charles is a prolific letter writer. During a tribunal in 2012, the court said, for instance, that Prince Charles had written in excess of 1,000 letters in 1987 alone, some addressed to senior politicians on government policy issues relating to the disabled, South Africa and Romania. | They are only a sample of what’s out there. It’s well known that Prince Charles is a prolific letter writer. During a tribunal in 2012, the court said, for instance, that Prince Charles had written in excess of 1,000 letters in 1987 alone, some addressed to senior politicians on government policy issues relating to the disabled, South Africa and Romania. |
| Accessing royal communications has become harder since the Guardian first launched its battle. The Freedom of Information Act was amended in 2010, and now communications from the monarch, the heir and the second in line to the throne are exempt for 20 years or five years after the individual’s death, whichever is longer. | Accessing royal communications has become harder since the Guardian first launched its battle. The Freedom of Information Act was amended in 2010, and now communications from the monarch, the heir and the second in line to the throne are exempt for 20 years or five years after the individual’s death, whichever is longer. |
| Charles and his wife, Camilla, recently returned from a four-day tour to the United States, where they met with President Obama at the White House. | Charles and his wife, Camilla, recently returned from a four-day tour to the United States, where they met with President Obama at the White House. |
| Charles, 66, has been taking on more of his 88-year-old mother’s duties, who in September will become the longest-reigning British monarch, passing the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. | Charles, 66, has been taking on more of his 88-year-old mother’s duties, who in September will become the longest-reigning British monarch, passing the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Prince Charles, Camilla having busy last day in D.C. | Prince Charles, Camilla having busy last day in D.C. |
| Prince Charles calls for respect between religions | Prince Charles calls for respect between religions |
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