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The Prince of Wales has resigned as patron of a leading heritage society after a row over his conservative architectural views, it was reported today.
Charles has quit as patron of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, founded by William Morris in 1877, after it rejected a foreword he had written for a handbook on the restoration of old houses, the Independent newspaper said.
He is said to have put forward the view in the piece that old houses should always be restored in their original style, in contrast to the view of the society which believes in using the best of modern architecture and design in restoration.
The society is said to have asked for the foreword to be amended, but was rebuffed and was told it was "all or nothing."
It chose to reject the piece, and the Prince, who took the view that he was being censored, responded by ending his association with the society, it was reported.
The rift took place several months ago, the newspaper said, but has been kept strictly confidential until now.
The move comes after the Prince won a battle last month to get the developers of Chelsea Barracks in central to drop their modernist design for the project.
Lord Rogers accused Charles of setting a "dangerous precedent" by using contacts with the Qatari royal family to ensure that his design for the site was rejected.
A spokesman for Clarence House would not comment on the details of the article but said: "The Prince of Wales has over 400 patronages.
"It came up for renewal in 2008 after five years and was not renewed. We never give reasons."
Reader views (10)
I think many people responding to this have misunderstood what SPAB really advises and believes. The protection of old buildings is central to SPAB's approach. It was founded by William Morris and from its earliest days fought to protect old buildings from the sort of restoration work that results in little more than pastiche. This can cause irreversible damage, harming a building's integrity and architectural honesty. SPAB believes that you should be able to stand back from a building and 'read' its development like a book. It's hard to do that if what William Morris called "feeble and lifeless forgeries" have been deployed.
SPAB aims to protect the past while ensuring that the best and most sympathetic design, architecture and materials of the present day are used in repair and extension projects. This will allow future generations to 'read' a building's continuing story. For more information I suggest you look at SPAB's website: www.spab.org.uk
- C. Cain, St Albans. UK, 15/07/2009 15:22
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Bad luck Charles, your childish temper has made your status a little more fragile, as you now have less to do. What made you want to get involved in this, just for a hobby? Stop meddling in important stuff, and get a proper job. And, please, NOT King!
- Rod, Epping, UK, 14/07/2009 10:52
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Are the people denigrating HRH suggesting that he should change his well known views just to please the publishers? Are they saying the patronage should be more important to him than those well-documented beliefs - that he knuckle under and effectively admit he is wrong (even if he is convinced that is not the case)? Are they saying he should be a snivelling appeaser just for the prestige of being their patron?
What odd thinking people, if so. It is the group that considers itself honoured by a patron, whoever they might be, else they wouldn't clamour for the right to put such high status names on their literature.
No doubt these verbal abusers are the same people who like to label the man a fool whenever they comment about him at all. Such automatic bias speaks of fools wherever this sort of thing happens - so what price their opinion of HRH?
- Rogan, Irving, 14/07/2009 05:01
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Oh dear, our future king indulging in a bit of foot stamping and having a hissy fit.
What will his mother say?
- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 13/07/2009 17:18
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I'd never agree with HRH on Greenie things, but he's spot on with so-called 'architecture'. Should be renamed 'Development engineering' anyway, although perhaps that's an insult to real engineers.
- Steve, London, England, 13/07/2009 12:27
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Why cant this over privileged bloke, keep his nose out of things which he knows nothing about. Leave these matters to the trained people who at least know how to lay a brick.!
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 13/07/2009 12:15
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Petulant Prince!Same old story from certain people with wealth and privilege i.e. Madonna,Prince Charles etc.etc. If they can't have their own way they sulk like spoilt children.Don't they realise that by exhibiting this type of behaviour they are creating a completely negative and unprofessional image of themselves.
- Lynn, Ashtead, 13/07/2009 11:59
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If Prince Charles views, and, thoughts prevailed throughout history, we would still be in the stone age. Everything about the guy is retrospective, including, modeling himself on another massive royal ego, his beloved uncle 'Dickie Mountbatten'(can anybody tell me what his legacy was other than the India/Pakistan conflict) I know a lot of people take him seriously, but I cannot think for the life of me think why!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 13/07/2009 11:05
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It is a pity that some of our government ministers do not have the integrity to resign over points of principle.
Prince Charles has done the right thing.
- Inoff The Red, London UK, 13/07/2009 09:13
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Charles is completely right. When restoring an historic building you must aim for authenticity. We've all seen the horrible bodge-ups that were done in the 1960s and 70s. Thirty years from now, some of our own efforts might well draw equal derision. The Society seems to have forgotten what its own name means. It certainly is acting in a highly precious manner. But then we are getting used to that attitude from architects, aren't we?
- Ken, Bexleyheath, 13/07/2009 08:48
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