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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Prince Charles won't 'meddle' when he becomes king | Prince Charles won't 'meddle' when he becomes king |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Prince of Wales says he will stop speaking out on topics he feels strongly about when he becomes king, as he is "not that stupid". | The Prince of Wales says he will stop speaking out on topics he feels strongly about when he becomes king, as he is "not that stupid". |
| He has campaigned on issues such as the environment for decades, but says he would not do the same as monarch. | He has campaigned on issues such as the environment for decades, but says he would not do the same as monarch. |
| Speaking in a BBC documentary to mark his 70th birthday, Prince Charles said the idea that he would continue making interventions was "nonsense". | Speaking in a BBC documentary to mark his 70th birthday, Prince Charles said the idea that he would continue making interventions was "nonsense". |
| He said he would have to operate within "constitutional parameters". | He said he would have to operate within "constitutional parameters". |
| He has campaigned on issues including the environment, wildlife preservation, architecture and the use of GM crops. | |
| 'Completely different' | 'Completely different' |
| In the hour-long programme, he was asked about what some people have called his "meddling", but said he had always tried to remain "non-party political". | In the hour-long programme, he was asked about what some people have called his "meddling", but said he had always tried to remain "non-party political". |
| He said: "I think it's vital to remember there's only room for one sovereign at a time, not two. | He said: "I think it's vital to remember there's only room for one sovereign at a time, not two. |
| "So, you can't be the same as the sovereign if you're the Prince of Wales or the heir. | "So, you can't be the same as the sovereign if you're the Prince of Wales or the heir. |
| "But the idea, somehow, that I'm going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense because the two - the two situations - are completely different." | "But the idea, somehow, that I'm going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense because the two - the two situations - are completely different." |
| Asked whether his public campaigning would continue, he said: "No, it won't. I'm not that stupid. | Asked whether his public campaigning would continue, he said: "No, it won't. I'm not that stupid. |
| "I do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign. So of course I understand entirely how that should operate." | "I do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign. So of course I understand entirely how that should operate." |
| Documentary film maker John Bridcut, who followed the royal for 12 months, said Prince Charles "bridled a bit" at the use of the word meddling, and instead preferred to think of his interventions as "motivating". | Documentary film maker John Bridcut, who followed the royal for 12 months, said Prince Charles "bridled a bit" at the use of the word meddling, and instead preferred to think of his interventions as "motivating". |
| The heir to the throne said: "If it's meddling to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago, then if that's meddling I'm proud of it." | The heir to the throne said: "If it's meddling to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago, then if that's meddling I'm proud of it." |
| BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said there would be "some relief in Whitehall" that the prince had publicly recognised how different his role as sovereign would be. | |
| He added they were "comments of real significance" - although the prince had not entirely ruled out using his convening powers to bring people together, potentially for conferences on the environment and other topics. | |
| But Prince Charles acknowledged "he could only do that with the agreement of ministers", our correspondent said. | |
| 'He's brilliant' | 'He's brilliant' |
| Mr Bridcut said: "People who think he's hanging around, longing to be king, are very mistaken. | Mr Bridcut said: "People who think he's hanging around, longing to be king, are very mistaken. |
| "It's not something he's dying to assume because inevitably it will only arise after the death of his mother. " | |
| He added that the Duchess of Cornwall, who is also interviewed in the documentary, "makes the point that this burden does not weigh heavily on his shoulders". | He added that the Duchess of Cornwall, who is also interviewed in the documentary, "makes the point that this burden does not weigh heavily on his shoulders". |
| The BBC has been given exclusive access to film Prince Charles, who turns 70 on 14 November. | The BBC has been given exclusive access to film Prince Charles, who turns 70 on 14 November. |
| Also appearing on the programme, the Duke of Cambridge said he would like his father to spend more time with his grandchildren - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. | |
| Prince William said, "when he's there, he's brilliant" but "we need him there as much as possible". | |
| 'People on his side' | 'People on his side' |
| By Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analyst | By Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analyst |
| The prince warned decades ago about human-induced climate change. It was controversial to some at the time, but now there's scientific consensus on the threat. | The prince warned decades ago about human-induced climate change. It was controversial to some at the time, but now there's scientific consensus on the threat. |
| On wildlife he rightly predicted a huge loss of species. He campaigned against rainforest destruction, and he'll be pleased at the recent focus on the impact of farming on forests, and therefore on the climate. | On wildlife he rightly predicted a huge loss of species. He campaigned against rainforest destruction, and he'll be pleased at the recent focus on the impact of farming on forests, and therefore on the climate. |
| His concern for soil sounded dotty to some observers, but it's now acknowledged that many areas face a crisis of soil degradation and loss. | His concern for soil sounded dotty to some observers, but it's now acknowledged that many areas face a crisis of soil degradation and loss. |
| On these matters, the mainstream has flowed towards the future monarch. | On these matters, the mainstream has flowed towards the future monarch. |
| On GM crops, the prince remains in conflict with the scientific establishment. | On GM crops, the prince remains in conflict with the scientific establishment. |
| On other hobby horses, such as homeopathy and architecture, he has expressed opinion rather than fact - but still he'll have some people on his side. | On other hobby horses, such as homeopathy and architecture, he has expressed opinion rather than fact - but still he'll have some people on his side. |