FOI request reveals Prince Charles has been privy to confidential cabinet documents
Prince Charles is facing fresh accusations of political meddling following revelations that the heir to the throne has been privy to top secret cabinet documents and memos along with the Queen.
The discovery was made by anti-monarchy campaigners Republic using a Freedom of Information (FOI) request who have now written to the prime minister calling for such disclosures to cease.
Using the FOI request Republic was able to get hold of extracts from the government’s Precedent Book, which dictates the rules and procedures of government. This states: “The documents of the cabinet and ministerial committees are issued primarily to the sovereign, the Prince of Wales and ministers.
“A few other senior ministers may receive copies at the prime minister’s direction.”
The Prince is thought to have been shut off from documents concerning economic, home and European policy as well as constitutional reform.
Graham Smith, the chief executive officer of Republic, said: “The Precedent Book suggests that ministers only see what they need to see. The government’s rule is that everything is on a need-to-know basis, but Charles has carte blanche access. He has greater security access than the security minister.”
A spokeswoman for the Cabinet Office responded: “It has been established practice for many years that the sovereign and the heir to the throne receive the minutes of cabinet meetings. It is important that the head of state and her heir are properly briefed.”