Australians for Constitutional Monarchy

There is a growing worldwide recognition of the significant role Prince Charles is playing in fields as diverse as protecting the rainforests, preserving our architectural heritage, and practical ways of helping the disadvantage.

Yet republicans think that when the Prince succeeds to the Throne some sort of as yet undefined politicians’ republic will miraculously fall into their laps. They are of course making a serious mistake. May they continue down  this road to their republican dead end.

The Prince’s world leadership role was perhaps most noticed during the recent G20 Summit in London (“Prince Charles: Respected World Statesman,” 5 April 2009).



.....passion for the environment...



The Prince was recently awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's highest accolade, the Victoria Medal of Honour at the Chelsea Flower Show  in recognition of  'his passion for plants, sustainable gardening and the environment'.

The Prince's interest in the environment comes from a time when it was not at all fashionable, and some in the media would caricature him for this.   How times have changed - it is no exaggeration to say we are all environmentalists now. 

The Prince of Wales numbers among only 63 horticulturalists entitled to hold the award at any one time. This number was chosen to commemorate Queen Victoria's years on the Throne.

As Paul Harris observed in the Daily Mail (19/5) it was “the first time the plants have had a chance to say thank you.

The Prince famously admitted that he talked to plants when he was interviewed for a TV programme in 1986. Asked about his gardening practices and philosophies, he replied: 'I just come and talk to the plants, really. Very important to talk to them - they respond, I find.' “

In the meantime the Prince continues to fight for the retention of our architectural heritage, exemplified by his intervention to protect the Chelsea Barracks (“Prince Charles defends old London,” 5 May 2009).  In his recent address to the Royal British Institute of Architects,  he stood his ground (“Parliament of spivs; Prince of good sense,” 18 May 2009. 

[ The Natural House ]

This prototype “eco-home” is made of clay blocks, rendered in lime and hemp, and insulated with wood fibre and sheep's wool. It is said to be simple, cheap, and will serve as an example to volume house builders.

The Prince is making a major contribution to he well being of the world. This is already over shadowing the attempts by those who practice caricature journalism.  

Prince Charles is the first senior member of the Royal Family to use a social networking website, MySpace, for his official duties. Sri Carmichael  reports in the London newspaper the Evening Standard (5/5) He has broadcast a plea to end the destruction of the rainforests. This was followed by a 90-second public awareness film about deforestation which received its online premiere on MySpace.

According to Time (5/5) the Prince has hired Blue State Digital, the Internet consultancy behind the hugely successful web component of President Obama's election campaign to provide the know-how and software to maximize the impact of the rainforest campaign and mobilize supporters.  

Prince Charles secured global support for his campaign at the G20 summit in London last month. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has offered to shepherd the Prince's proposals through meetings in July when Italy takes over the presidency.

"His great strength is to be a convener," says an aide. "He can't get directly involved in politics."



...the film....



According to Time, the film involves “a computer-generated horned frog, an eclectic cast of celebrities and a smattering of unknown but photogenic kids. Prince Charles's deadpan double-act with the frog betrays the relish for thespian activities that enticed him to star in amateur dramatics as an undergraduate at Cambridge University.

“His sons William and Harry drafted a couple of mates — Bond star Daniel Craig and soul diva Joss Stone — into the lineup, and also put in appearances themselves.

“With such a proliferation of princes, the frog — present in every frame — remains un-kissed, though it does get to nestle on Harrison Ford's shoulder, inspires Robin Williams to gurning mimicry, and shares the screen with Pele, the Dalai Lama and that most celebrated of amphibians, Kermit.

“It's odd but charming, a phrase that might also describe the British monarchy for all but convinced republicans, “says Time. And if the Prince succeeds in his mission to rescue the rainforest, he could even win round a few of them.”

A quarter-century ago, Prince Charles described a proposed extension to the National Gallery in London as a “monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend”. Most people would think it is fortunate that he did.

Recently the Prince – an outspoken advocate of traditionalist architecture – wrote letters to Qatar’s Emir and the Prime Minister, making a personal plea to drop the modernist design of an apartment block development on the site of the old Chelsea Barracks in the heart of London. 

 The Qatar Royal Family owns the five-hectare site and had commissioned Richard (now Lord) Rogers, the prominent architect, to come up with a design for the development.

According to David Sapsted, Foreign Correspondent of the Abu Dhabi newspaper The National (5/5) Lord Rogers opted for 550 apartments housed in a series of glass and steel towers, the highest 36 metres, topped with grass roofs. The most expensive is expected to go on sale for £70 million (Dh384.5m).

Prince Charles was reported to be aghast at the proposal, which he considered unsuitable for an area of many classical buildings, including the nearby Royal Hospital, a home for old soldiers, which was designed in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren.

In his letters, the Prince is understood to have described the Rogers design as “unsympathetic” to the area and put forward, instead, a neoclassical design he had commissioned from Quinlan Terry, a traditionalist architect and a favourite of the Prince.

The Prince's plea has been politely rejected; this is not the end of the matter.

Read more

On a visit to Germany, Prince Charles has been presented with an award for his work in sustainable development. As we noted here on 5 April, and in an earlier column  (25/3) mentioning reaction to his recent South American visit, Prince Charles is a respected international statesman who plays a leading role in environmental matters, bringing different faiths together, and in practical aid  for the disadvantaged.

It was interesting that in their evidence  to the Senate hearings on the Plebiscite for an Australian Republic Bill (29/9)  two republicans appearing in the last session discounted completely the official republican dream that their cause will become popular when the Prince ascends the throne.  

Some republicans still think a politicians' republic is going to fall into their laps. If they don't or can't tell the people what they want no one will take them seriously. 

                           



...."caricature journalism"....





In this context remember that the Prince, as with other members of the Royal Family, is the target of a lazy abuse of journalistic privilege by sections of the British press. I call this “ caricature journalism.” 

This involves drawing a caricature of the target and then making a succession of items of “ shock”  news  fit into that usually by exaggeration or even invention. It involves ignoring totally the  achievements of the person. This is then relayed around the world, and taken up by local media including the broadcast news. The correction, if it is published at all, is usually low key. 

Of course this inflicts damage, which is the intention of these scoundrels.



...the German visit....  





In any event the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall were at the conclusion of a visit to Germany where once again the Prince has demonstrated his concerns in all of these areas.

After being  received at the Bellevue Palace by Horst Kohler, President of the Federal Republic of Germany the  Prince and The Duchess  went to Katzback Stadium to watch two football matches, including the Imams vs Clergy match instituted by a  British born vicar who started the matches in the wake of the London July 7th terror attacks in 2005.

[ The Prince, not in Germany but in Chile ]

....the Prince and climate change...

As we have said in this column whenever the issue arises, climate change theory is outside of the remit of ACM.

But we could not help noticing this ad hominem attack on the Prince in The Australian's  Cut and Paste column (1/5):

“Brendan O'Neill, in National Review online, on plans by Prince Charles to write a book on climate change (writes) :

“ The thought of being lectured about living more meekly by a taxpayer-subsidised prince who has never done a proper day's work in his life - and who is flying around Europe on a private jet with a master suite and plush bathroom that will spew a whopping 53 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere over the course of his five-day, $US116,000 ($158,000) charter - is of course eye-swivellingly irritating.”

Mr O’Neill should check the facts on his first two assertions which come from the shoddy work of certain British  caricature journalists.

First, most of the Prince’s income is from his own resources, the Duchy of Cornwall estate on which he voluntarily pays tax. Most of the remainder is used to support his charitable activities, for which he also personally raises about a quarter of a billion Australians dollars not once but each year.

Of course there are specific government "grants in aid" but these are to fund state activities undertaken by the Prince, not to subsidise him.

Second, the Prince is hard working – very much so.

At 60 he could be retired. But from his naval career to his many activities he has his days have been filled.

His achievements are testimony to that, and a glance at his appointment’s diary would provide more than sufficient supporting evidence.

Criticise the Prince for his views if you wish Mr. O'Neill but be fair.  Don't recycle caricature journalism.