Prince Charles - a 'dissident' future king?

By Anna Tomforde Feb 22, 2006, 19:15 GMT

London - Prince Charles, who is on record as describing members of the press as 'these bloody people', always knew that he was taking a gamble by suing a powerful newspaper empire over his private travel diaries.

The High Court case of HRH The Prince of Wales v Associated Newspapers, currently under way in London, has indeed revealed an intriguing side to the prince's character by exposing a degree of political commitment that many believe could conflict with his future role.

The prince's lawyers had tried hard to prevent publication of the potentially explosive witness statement by Mark Bolland, a former close aide to Charles, who is now giving evidence for the 'opposing side' in the High Court.

In it, the 57-year-old heir to the British throne is described as a man who sees himself as a 'dissident working against the prevailing political consensus.'

In that role, the prince regularly circulated furious letters to ministers, the media, friends and even passing acquaintances, in which he gave candid assessments of current affairs and - at times - denounced the elected leaders of foreign countries.

In his private diaries, extracts of which were published by the Mail on Sunday newspaper last November, the prince described the Chinese leadership during the 1997 handover of Hong Kong as 'appalling old waxworks' who were going in for an 'awful Soviet-style display of goose-stepping' at the handover ceremony.

'The prince used all the means of communication at his disposal, including meetings with ministers and others, speeches and correspondence with leaders in all walks of life and politicians', said Bolland's 10-page statement.

'He was never party-political, but to argue that he was not political was difficult...These letters were not merely routine and non-controversial...but written at times in extreme terms on political matters and individual politicians at home and abroad on international issues.'

According to Bolland it was the prince's 'definite aim' to influence opinion, which he saw as part of his job.

While Britons knew that the prince believed in the benefits of speaking to plants and held strong views on the environment, GM food, architecture and climate change, they have been taken by surprise by the future king's confession to being a 'dissident.'

'Prisoners of conscience are normally dressed in chains and not in a crown', said the Times in a sarcastic comment Wednesday, while praising Charles' 'strong conscience and powerful sense of calling.'

The pro-republican Independent likened the Prince to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, whom he admired and with whom he identified.

But in a year where Queen Elizabeth II turns 80, and her oldest son is expected to take over a greater public role, many fear that the glimpse at Charles' different style could reinforce the belief that he will not continue in the 'accomplished' manner of his mother.

The Queen, said the Daily Telegraph Wednesday, had 'never played games with the press or surrounded herself with unreliable servants.'

And the Times advised: 'The Queen has performed her duties over five decades in a manner that has made her private views inscrutable. It is not only sensible but essential for the Prince to follow her fine example.'