I wish I could do more...
What the prince wrote to clergyman as the welter of claims grew stronger
SEPT 1993, BALL TO CHARLES
Life continues to be pretty nasty for me for, it seems that my accusers still want to continue their malicious campaign. Luckily they are beginning to show some of their fraudulent plans.
DEC 1994, CHARLES TO BALL
I saw the Archbishop the other day and he told me he is trying to bring you back to a public ministry. I do hope this will be all right and suit you, if and when it happens...
FEB 1995, CHARLES TO BALL
I wish I could do more. I feel so desperately strongly about the monstrous wrongs that have been done to you and the way you have been treated. It’s appalling that the Archbishop has gone back on what he told me, before Xmas, that he was hoping to restore you to some form of Ministry in the Church. I suspect you are absolutely right – it is due to fear of the media... If it is any consolation, the Archbishop has written me a letter (between you and me) in which it is also clear that he is frightened of the Press – what he calls ‘public perception’, which in fact, perception of events and characters based entirely on lies, invention, speculation and sensation.
DEC 1995, BALL TO CHARLES
The young man who accused me keeps on harassing. The last was a few weeks back with a fax, threatening to say more, when he has agreed not to and ending with the words ‘Your never forgiving brother in Christ’. That is both vile and blasphemous and oh that the police and CPS had seen and known from the beginning the nature of the young man. How I wish the Archbishop or someone would tell them.
APR 1996, BALL TO CHARLES
And I can honestly share the pain of it all having tried to break the crippling and unchristian powers of the ecclesiastical set up, and then being deserted in my hour of need.
JUN 1996, CHARLES TO BALL
...I am so glad that [X – whose name has not been disclosed] has been in touch as I requested. I pray the Duchy will be able to find something suitable for you both in due course, but it may take a little time to locate it! I long to see you both settled somewhere that suits you and gives you peace and tranquility – and not too far from here so you can come over more easily...
MAR 1997, CHARLES TO BALL
[X] tells me that your house has been bought successfully – it looks rather nice – and I only hope the rent won’t be too bad! I can’t bear it that the frightful, terrifying man is on the loose again and doing his worst... I was visiting the vicar... and we were enthusing about you and your brother and he then told me that he had heard that this ghastly man was up to his dastardly tricks again... I’ll see off this horrid man if he tries anything again.
AUG 2001, CHARLES TO BALL
I do however firmly believe that one day people will be forced to signing your resignation deed but, as you have been advised, I daresay that the Establishment will close ranks and you will get nowhere. But how outrageous that now these people say sorry – and only in private...
DEC 2001, CHARLES TO BALL
I saw [X ] the other day...he mentioned that you were thinking of going to the Archbishop and seemed a bit anxious about it... I daresay by now you will have approached the Archbishop but in your letter you so kindly asked me whether I had any objections – something which you certainly didn’t need to do. The only thing I would say is that unless you really need to go to the Archbishop of Canterbury – for financial reasons particularly – I would have thought it might be better to let sleeping dogs lie...
OCT 2009, BALL TO CHARLES
I am now nearly a broken man, because of what the Church has put me through after seventeen years of serving in retirement. They have smashed me with the bully of an assessor... from a Child Protection Officer and no pastoral care, except two nice letters from the Archbishop. Suddenly, I am not allowed to baptise, or go to any parish without informing the Church Warden that I had a caution all those years back... Ball included a letter that set out he was being risk assessed.
MAY 2010, BALL TO CHARLES
...the horror that has come to me from the Bishop of Chichester with the Archbishop’s obvious hand in it. I have been told that I may not minister at all when we move, nor may I worship anywhere without signing a Declaration for the Protection of Children.
MAY 2012, BALL TO CHARLES
He writes to say that the police are re-opening the investigation and are to question him. He says: ‘I thought it had been fully examined 20 years ago.’
JULY 2012, BALL TO CHARLES
Life is ‘almost unbearable. I am being pursued and persecuted. In ways which it would not be discreet to enlarge on, though I am sure that you can guess their source and virulence’.
DEC 2012, BALL TO CHARLES
Ball writes to thank the Prince of Wales for phoning him, writing in the letter that the affair of 20 years ago had been ‘stirred up’ again by Lambeth [Palace].