Inside the mind of Prince Charles

Prince Charles

LONDON - An astonishing insight into the Prince of Wales' view of the world, including both criticism and praise for Tony Blair, politically charged complaints as well as his attachment to the days of Empire, was released to a court yesterday.

Embarrassingly for both sides, in the document disclosed in the High Court, the Prince describes the British Prime Minister as a politician who takes decisions based on "market research", but also said he found him "enjoyable" company.

The 3000-word document titled The Handover of Hong Kong or The Great Chinese Takeaway, was written following his attendance at the handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese in 1997.

In it, he complains about being seated in club class on the flight, describes the Chinese leaders as "appalling waxworks", and outlines his fears for the future of Hong Kong.

The journal is one of eight the Prince claims were handed over to the Mail on Sunday by a former employee, whose identity remains unknown.

The Prince is suing owner Associated Newspapers for breach of copyright and confidentiality after extracts were printed in the newspaper.

The journal, released to journalists yesterday, graphically demonstrates the belief of Charles, as related to the court by his former deputy private secretary, Mark Bolland, that he sees himself as a "dissident", standing up for unpopular causes. In it he described how the Prince regularly disseminated his views to ministers, official bodies and staff.

The Prince's lawyers said yesterday that they now had no objections to the release of the Hong Kong document, since their argument was over the principle of breach of confidence.

The frankness of the views disclosed about Chinese politicians are likely to be highly embarrassing for the Foreign Office. Perhaps more personally embarrassing is his distaste at being seated in club class on a flight to Hong Kong, while politicians are given first-class seats - "such is the end of empire".

- INDEPENDENT