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Prince Charles letters: UK government publishes 'black spider memos'.

The British government has published confidential letters from Prince Charles to ministries on a range of issues, including defence resources and farming, following a 10-year press freedom legal battle to have them released.

In the letters, known as the “black spider memos” because of his spindly handwriting, Prince Charles wrote to then prime minister Tony Blair to express concern over equipment provided to British troops in Iraq.

The letters date back to 2004 and 2005.

The eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II also voiced concern about conditions for British farmers and urged the preservation of Britain’s historic buildings.

He also makes a recommendation for a nomination.

Prince Charles.

The prince's Clarence House office immediately released a statement criticising the release, which was approved by the Supreme Court in March.

"The publication of private letters can only inhibit his ability to express the concerns and suggestions which have been put to him in the course of his travels and meetings," the statement said.

Some of the letters obtained by The Guardian newspaper under the Freedom of Information act appeared on the government's cabinet office website.

They revealed that Prince Charles told Mr Blair of his fears that "our Armed Forces are being asked to do an extremely challenging job (particularly in Iraq) without the necessary resources".

He called for action to help British dairy and beef farmers and an immediate cull of badgers to prevent another health scare like Mad Cow Disease.

The prince also wrote to the Northern Ireland minister to advocate the preservation of historic buildings in the province.

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Letters a 'storm in a tea cup'

Prince Charles has been nicknamed the "meddlesome prince" over his political interventions, with many concerned he will continue to lobby when he becomes king, shunning the convention of a politically neutral royal family.

But the low-key nature of the issues involved is unlikely to lead to serious repercussions, according to royal commentator Andrew Morton.

"The prince is a farmer who is knowledgeable and opinionated about farming issues, concerned about the environment and the preservation of crumbling historic buildings," said Mr Morton, author of a biography on Princess Diana and a recent book on Edward VIII — Prince Charles's great uncle.

"It is a royal beef about milk quotas, a storm in a tea cup.

"His letters are like the man — very polite, concerned and well-informed."

The government had vetoed the release of the letters under Freedom of Information laws, but this was struck down by the courts.

Click through the gallery below to see the letters. Post continues after gallery. 

 

A spokesman for prime minister David Cameron said the ruling had "generated some uncertainty" about the use of the FOI act, and said the new government would examine how to boost its veto power.

The ruling to release the memos was praised by The Guardian, which waged a 10-year campaign to make them public.

The 66-year-old Prince of Wales has spent a lifetime in preparation for the throne.

But a new biography of Prince Charles last year reignited debate about whether he is fit to become king.

This post originally appeared on the ABC and was republished with full permission.