My royal duties, by right Charlie

[FetchingHag]

[AbsolutelyWilliam] My royal duties, by right Charlie





AFTER more than half a century as heir to the throne, Prince Charles is at last preparing to issue his own job description.

The 54-year-old prince wants to set out his duties, responsibilities and areas of influence, which have never been officially defined. The move comes as the Queen today celebrates 50 years on the British throne.

The "Prince's Charter" could be invoked against charges of political interference, such as those triggered by last year's leaked letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair in which Prince Charles supported a complaint that the Government was treating farmers worse than ethnic minorities.

Royal sources say the document will claim the right to lobby cabinet ministers on matters of importance, while conceding he must abandon any issues that become political.

The document may also define the terms on which the prince can become involved in business deals.

The charter, which will be drawn up by palace officials this northern autumn, will not be submitted to any political authority for approval. It will be Charles's version of the rights and responsibilities that he has established over the 33 years since he was invested as Prince of Wales.

News that he is to define his royal duties comes on the eve of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of his mother's coronation, for which he is to host a dinner at Clarence House today.

The mansion, next to St James's Palace, was the first home of the Queen and Prince Philip after their marriage in 1947, before their relatively free existence ended suddenly on February 6, 1952, when King George VI died after a reign of little more than 15 years.

Constitutional historian Robert Blake welcomed the plan to outline the role of heir to the throne, saying it was a "historic problem which so far nobody has managed to solve". He argued that Downing Street should be informed of the document but said the Prime Minister should not be allowed to interfere in its writing.

The Queen's biographer, Ben Pimlott, said: "This appears to be a potentially significant part of modernising the monarchy, although it might become a hostage to fortune to describe a role if Charles then fails to stick by it."

Labour MP Brian White, who is on a committee that is examining the scope of the royal prerogative, forecast that the prince's habit of lobbying ministers would continue to be controversial.

"I don't think it's possible to decide where an issue becomes party political . . . a whole can of worms will be opened up," he said.

The document is the most significant in a series of measures to be introduced this year to improve the accountability of St James's Palace.

Royal officials hope it will switch attention from Prince Charles's private life to his public role.

On June 30, the palace will publish the first accounts showing how Prince Charles spends his income from the Duchy of Cornwall, which is this year expected to rise to almost ?10 million ($25.3 million) before tax.