Prince Charles’ Camp Calls Claims in Book ‘Ill-Informed Speculation’
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Oli Scarff/Getty Images(LONDON) — In a nearly unprecedented move, representatives for Britain’s Prince Charles are publicly fighting back against criticism of the Prince of Wales raised in the controversial new book, Born to Be King: Prince Charles on Planet Windsor.
In a letter published in the Times of London, Charles’ chief of staff calls some of the book’s claims “ill-informed speculation,” including the claim that Charles will be an “activist monarch.”
“I think this is an unprecedented move by Prince Charles’ chief of staff,” royal editor and author Robert Jobson told ABC News. “It shows by issuing this letter that Prince Charles is pretty furious about the claims that have been made about him.”
In Born to Be King, the author, Time magazine’s Catherine Mayer, drops the bombshell that Charles had cold feet on the eve of his wedding to Princess Diana in 1981. She also claims that, while a proud father, Charles has moments of jealousy towards his two sons, Princes William and Harry.
“Prince Charles doesn’t often attract the same level of attention as the people around him,” Mayer told ABC News. “His sons and his shining daughter-in-law, will attract these huge crowds.”
It is Mayer’s critical stance on Charles’ possible future role as the King of England that prompted the letter to the Times.
“His Royal Highness has always preferred not to comment,” the letter reads. “After half a century in public life, few could be better placed…to understand the necessary and proper limitations on the role…”
In the book, Mayer claims that Charles’ activist style may be at odds with his role to remain neutral like his mother, Queen Elizabeth.
“He knows what it takes to be King,” said Jobson. “He’s done 60 odd years as Prince of Wales.”
“He knows what’s expected of him and he knows the limitations of the role,” Jobson said of the Prince of Wales.
Born to Be King will be published in the U.S. on Feb. 17.
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