Collection

Prince of Wales correspondence with government departments

The government has published correspondence between the Prince of Wales and government departments.

In 2005, the government received several requests for copies of correspondence between HRH The Prince of Wales and government ministers.

The government refused these requests under the Freedom of Information (FOI) exemption covering communications with The Sovereign and The Heir to The Throne. Whilst the Information Commissioner upheld the government’s position, the case was referred to the Information Tribunal. The Information Tribunal ordered the release of most of the correspondence.

In 2012 the Attorney General issued a veto under section 53 of the FOI Act. Further court proceedings ended on 26 March 2015 with the Supreme Court overturning that veto.

The government maintains that communications between the Heir to The Throne and ministers should remain private, and that this is a part of our constitutional arrangements.

Documents

Published 13 May 2015
Last updated 15 October 2015 + show all updates
  1. Added new correspondence with Medical Research Council

  2. Added correspondence with the Secretaries of State at Department for International Development and Department for Communities and Local Government.

  3. First published.