Prince’s letter raises questions at hearing

Lawyers for the Prince of Wales have suggested he could not be compelled to give a statement about his friendship with a since disgraced bishop, an inquiry has heard.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is this week examining how abuse claims against former Church of England bishop Peter Ball were handled.

Ball, jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing 18 young men over 30 years, previously boasted of his links to royalty and was said to be a confidant of Charles.

The heir to the throne’s evidence to the inquiry, which was leaked to the media last week, will be read on Friday, in the form of a letter.

During Monday’s hearing a lawyer for some of Ball’s victims said his clients were surprised and concerned at the format of the evidence.

Richard Scorer said concerns around Charles’ letter include that it may be “less than entirely frank”.

But the last sentence of Charles’s letter, which makes clear the information is true, is ruled by the inquiry to meet the requirements of a statement of truth, yesterday’s hearing was told.