What opinion recently got Prince Charles into a spot of trouble?
And why is it such a big deal?
How might things change when he becomes king?
Keep watching as we parse his royal faux pas.
The British royal family is a busy bunch.
They attend hundreds of official engagements each year, and their duties range from supporting
charities to representing the U.K. at various events.
For Queen Elizabeth II, these engagements include ceremonially "approving bills" in
Parliament.
These varied responsibilities can sometimes blur the line between what royals should and
shouldn't do.
As the royal family's official website points out, the monarchy plays a significant role
in British culture and tradition.
Yet its power is extremely minimal when it comes to actual politics.
Express notes that royals must follow strict rules to avoid overstepping bounds.
But it seems as though Prince Charles, who's first in line for the throne, recently had
a bit of a slip-up.
On the heels of the queen's momentous Platinum Jubilee celebration, Charles has landed himself
in hot water for sharing a controversial political opinion.
Charles and his wife, Camilla, are gearing up to visit Rwanda for The Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting.
The Associated Press reports that ahead of his trip, the future king has been "accused
of meddling" by speaking out about the U.K.'s plan to deport Rwandan asylum-seekers.
Traditionally, royals are expected to remain neutral on political matters and are barred
from influencing government decisions.
But a source told The Times that the prince allegedly called the deportation plan "appalling"
and expressed disappointment in it.
Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for The Sunday Times, bluntly told ITV,
"I think, like any other human being, the Prince of Wales holds opinions."
Even so, and though Charles reportedly made his remarks during a private conversation,
he has been blasted for commenting on government affairs.
Nigel Farage, the founder of the Brexit Party, criticized the royal on Twitter, writing,
"Unless Prince Charles wants to destroy the monarchy he had better shut up fast."
Another unidentified cabinet member responded by telling The Times,
"Prince Charles is an adornment to our public life, but that will cease to be charming if
he attempts to behave the same way when he is king."
Clarence House, Charles' official residence, released a statement following this string
of events, stating,
"We would not comment on supposed anonymous private conversations with the Prince of Wales,
except to restate that he remains politically neutral."
Yet this is not the first time that Prince Charles has weighed in on political issues.
In 2015, letters from 2004 to 2005 between Charles and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair
and other politicians were made public.
They included Charles' thoughts on a range of political topics including the war in Iraq,
herbal medicine, and whether certain animals should be protected.
The letters became known as the "black spider memos" because of Charles' spirally, spider-like
handwriting.
The Guardian reported that some thought the letters were a clear example of the prince
violating political neutrality.
Upon their release, however, there wasn't a huge reckoning over them, and his office
said the prince had the "right to communicate privately."
More recently, Charles has come under fire for voicing his opinions on climate change.
According to CNBC, at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the heir to the
throne spoke about the dangers of the loss of biodiversity and climate change.
Express reported that Farage found fault in the prince's "green kick," and said that Charles
might be right, but that it wasn't his place to try and influence legislation.
Once Prince Charles becomes king, it's quite possible there won't be any more of his political
opinions getting out.
In an interview with the BBC for his 70th birthday, Charles pointed out the difference
between being sovereign and being heir, saying,
"Clearly I won't be able to do the same things I've done, you know, as heir.
So of course you operate within the constitutional parameters."
When specifically asked about what's been seen by some as political meddling, he said,
"I'm not that stupid" to continue doing such when he becomes king.
Charles isn't the first royal to be criticized for seemingly airing political opinions, of
course.
In a 2019 speech, the queen noted that she hoped people could work to find common ground,
which some took to be a political opinion on Brexit.
And in 2014, she told someone before the Scottish independence referendum,
"I hope people will think very carefully about the future."
The Independent noted that some also saw that as a subtle way for her to share her support
of Scotland staying a part of the United Kingdom.
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