National Post (National Edition)
On throne, Charles vows to stop ‘meddling’
LONDON • Prince Charles will today vow publicly that he will not be a “meddling” King, as he outlines for the first time his plans for his future as sovereign.
The Prince, heir to the throne since the age of four, will say in an interview to be aired Thursday that his campaigning will end when he finally becomes King.
In the interview timed to coincide with his 70th birthday, Prince Charles insists he will follow in the footsteps of his mother the Queen and “operate within the constitutional parameters” of life as monarch.
Critics have accused the Prince of interfering in controversial issues including railing against modern architecture and genetically modified food, as well as promoting homoeopathy and a badger cull.
As long ago as 1984, his description of a new extension to the National Gallery in London as a “monstrous carbuncle” led to the scheme being scrapped, while he declined to attend a state dinner in honour of the Chinese, allegedly over his opposition to their policy on Tibet.
But in the 70th birthday interview, he says his life’s work as the Prince of Wales is “completely different” from the role he will one day have.
Pressed on whether his public campaigning will continue, he insists: “No, it won’t. I’m not that stupid. I do realize that it is a separate exercise being sovereign. So of course I understand entirely how that should operate.”
The interview, to be broadcast on BBC, will take stock of the Prince’s life so far, and contain warm tributes from his sons.
Told by an interviewer that “some people have accused you of meddling,” the documentary shows the Prince laughing before replying dryly: “Really? You don’t say.”
He goes on: “I always wonder what meddling is. I mean I always thought it was motivating, but I’ve always been intrigued. If it’s meddling to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago and what was happening or not happening there, the conditions in which people were living … If that’s meddling, I’m very proud of it.”