Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales is the son of Queen Elizabeth II and heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom. And that should worry you.
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[edit] Family
He was married to the late Princess Diana from 1981 until 1996, and married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005; he has two sons, Prince William (Duke of Ambridge Cambridge) and Prince Harry (the Nazi-uniform enthusiast).
[edit] Career in snake oil sales
He supports and sells complementary medicines. Professor Edzard Ernst, Britain's first professor of complementary medicine, who spent eighteen years at Exeter University leading a unit that subjects alternative medicines to thorough scientific scrutiny, called Charles a "snake oil salesman"[1] for endorsing the "Duchy Herbals" detox tincture.
He also talks to plants. Really.[2]
[edit] State interference
Charles often writes to government ministers about matters that interest him. This would not normally be an issue, but he has been known to try to interfere in government policy.[3] The Information Tribunal ruled that the Government should release copies of his controversial "black spider" letters to Ministers, but the Attorney General vetoed the release, claiming letting normal people read his views might damage his "ability to perform as King."[4] The ministerial veto enables ministers to ignore Tribunal rulings if they find them to be embarrassing contrary to the national interest.
In fact, he even has the right to prevent a bill being presented to parliament if they conflict with his business interests.[5] The Government is trying to cover this up, too, as it touches on a wide variety of policy areas that Queen's Consent doesn't.
[edit] Other stuff
Charles is famous for complaining about fugly architecture, stopping a few more monstrosities from dotting the British landscape (or at least, monstrosities he doesn't himself own[6]). His ears are often caricatured, even by his sympathisers.[7] He also appears to be much less bigoted than his father. Stopped clock.
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Professor calls Prince Charles, others "snake-oil salesmen", Reuters
- ↑ Prince Charles Eavesdrops on Tourists, Speaks to Plants, ABC News
- ↑ Prince Charles's letters to ministers should be disclosed, judges rule, The Guardian
- ↑ Attorney general blocks disclosure of Prince Charles letters to ministers, The Guardian
- ↑ Prince Charles has been offered a veto over 12 government bills since 2005, The Guardian
- ↑ Local History: Poundbury, BBC
- ↑ The many faces of Prince Charles