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Prince's threat to quit charity over architects
Felix Allen18 Aug 2009
Prince Charles threatened to quit as patron of the National Trust unless plans for its new headquarters were changed to suit his architectural tastes, it was claimed today.
A senior royal aide told the charity that the Prince could not accept the design of a proposed £14.5million building in Swindon and if they did not change it he would step down as its president, a source revealed.
Last month Charles successfully scuppered the £1billion Lord Rogers development at Chelsea Barracks, leading to high-profile rows with leading architects.
He was also accused yesterday of trying to have modernist French architect Jean Nouvel removed from the £500million One New Change office and shops complex beside St Paul's Cathedral.
The threat to the National Trust is said to have been made by a former private secretary to the Prince shortly after he took over presidency from the Queen Mother, who died in 2002. It was claimed he requested the power of approval over new architectural projects and asked for his advisers to scrutinise plans for the Swindon headquarters.
One of the Prince's architecture advisers had already told the project team that Prince Charles would not like the plans that showed a triangular, low-profile structure on the site of a former Victorian engineering foundry.
Following the charity's reluctance to redraw plans, there was a tense meeting at St James's Palace, attended by Fiona Reynolds, the director general of the National Trust, and Elizabeth Buchanan, the prince's then private secretary.
"The project reached an impasse. There was a meeting at the palace and the aide threatened the withdrawal of his patronage," a source involved in the project told the Guardian.
The National Trust later managed to persuade Charles of the scheme's merits and it was built, with more than 1,000 photovoltaic panels on the roof.
A Clarence House spokesman said: "The prince won't offer his personal patronage of a building that doesn't feature the principles of sustainability he personally espouses."
Reader views (33)
Probably this argument has been put before, but just imagine if Venice, or any other beautiful Italian, or other European city was meddled with by the modernists? St. Paul's deserved better, and the Prince is quite right.
- Mark, Venice, Italy, 18/08/2009 22:49
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This meddlesome little cretin should just crawl back under his privileged rock and stop interfering in the life of this nation. He is not this nation, just an anachronism, and an annoying little creep into the bargain.
- Kerry Trubee, purley, 18/08/2009 15:59
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Prince Charles offers what are deeply considered and intelligently argued opinions. You only have to look around you in any of our cities, towns and villages to see the hideous legacy that is the result of 60 years of unfettered arrogance on the part of the architectural profession in hand with the stupidity and ignorance of the planners, and the greed of the developers.
Those that attack The Prince of Wales for this must walk around with their eyes closed. I simply cannot understand why this serious and rather philosphical man, who despite his background manages to articulate the thoughts of many ordinary people, appears to be so deeply reviled in some quarters.
- Toby Webster, Ongar, England, 18/08/2009 15:47
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He seems to forget that he is just a FIGUREHEAD and as such should keep his mouth shut.
- Lisa, Kenilworth, UK, 18/08/2009 15:27
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"No one should offer an opinion that I think is wrong."
That's the central message of a lot of these comments.
The man has an opinion, he uses his personality, wealth, position to influence others to go along. NO different from any elected or appointed official, boss, manager, etc.
That's life!
- Trunk, US, 18/08/2009 15:13
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Time we had a revolution. - Charles is a useless idiot. If he becomes King there will be no interest in the coronation. The National Trust should let him go.
- Sarah, London, 18/08/2009 15:05
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I hope the people who run the National Trust have the sense to realise that Prince Charles loves, cares about and is an expert on our historic buildings . As opposed to Lord Rogers, the dumbed down RIBA and all the other critics of HRH who are all recent arrivals in this country and who would like to destroy our ancient buildings because as immigrants they have no historic links to them.
- Minnie Bauxite, Fulham, UK, 18/08/2009 15:01
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Sandy, Ealing
It's a lovely idea to ponder a real and empowered monarchy but it simply is no longer a workable institution able to serve the needs of a whole nation. Either you have an absolute monarchy which generally ends in chopping said monarch's head off for being unreasonable, or some compromise where people argue about who actually speaks to the king/queen. In that case it's the advisors who lose their heads. Cut to modern day politics and you basically have the same situation with a PM instead of a monarch - hence the fuss MPs make about decisions being made by Parliament rather than on a sofa with a flatmate as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown prefer.
You could argue the decisions are necessarily better, but at least it leaves Britain with a tourism generating national symbol - the Royals - which is cheaper than many alternative options given we have rubbish weather, transport, food etc etc.
- David, London, 18/08/2009 14:54
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The Prince was right. It's high time Architects built attractive buildings, rather than offensive ones. Thank goodness he is standing up for the views of the vast majority of us!
- Francis Salvesen, London UK, 18/08/2009 14:44
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As I've just commented on another daily paper's website to this article, I used to be a fan of the Royal family but have progressively gone off them due in part to Charles' outpourings mainly re architecture. Of course his views are shared by some members of the public. In their eyes, his "celebrity" status, along with that of actors, singers, and others whose jobs propel them into the public eye, means that he (and they) can force their opinions on the whole world whether or not the whole world wants to hear them!
I for one am sick and tired of his endless comments on this and that. What will happen when he becomes King? Isn't the Monarch supposed to be neutral? Just look at our present Queen - so dignified and whose actions only bring credit to the Royal Family, unlike some of her children.
- Judith, KIng's Lynn, Norfolk, UK, 18/08/2009 14:21
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Agree with Sandy, Ken, Ted, Matt - we mere citizens need help against the UK Soviet. Which includes the NT, who now compliantly administer estates confiscated by the inheritance taxes of... the self-same UK Soviet. When 'Parliament' has failed, and the 'Upper House' is corrupt, who else but principled Princes do we have to save us? Architecture may prove a 'stalking horse' - watch your step, People's Commissars (Quango fodder) once we have a King who cares!
- Steve, London, England, 18/08/2009 14:20
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To echo Kate's Comments - "God Save the Queen" for a long time please.
I applaud an interest in the world outside the palace but not to use his power to overturn a process - sorry hun you're in the wrong century for those games.
- Jc, SE1, 18/08/2009 14:09
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Go for it HRH, let us be rid of these boring vainglorious architects - Messrs. Rogers, Foster and their ilk - that actually think they are creative. The only creativity on their part is a collection of ugly blemishes on London's skyline.
- Tinkerbelle, London, 18/08/2009 14:09
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The architects build to please their own egos. Most of their designs are hideous and incongrous with their surroundings. We arelleft to live with the eyesores whilst the architects get rich and move to the countryside.
I fully support Prince Charles, he is correct and he cares and is doing a fantastic job on behalf of the people.
- Rikrok, London, 18/08/2009 13:36
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Sorry, chaps, but those who support HRH are missing the point. He ought not to be involving himself in a process that leads the Monarchy into disrepute, whatever the rights and wrongs, whatever our individual feelings about this or any other design he's put down. He's throwing his weight around regardless of anyone else's opinion -does he have a divine right in these matters? If he thinks he does go back to circa 1649.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 18/08/2009 13:23
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Bye-bye.
- Bloke, London, 18/08/2009 13:10
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Why should he tell us what to do,just bugger off and keep
his mouth shut.
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex, 18/08/2009 13:06
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Well done Charles.
Only with his status can curtail the oversized egos of the modernist architecture mafia.
- Lillywhite, London, 18/08/2009 12:56
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I would have much more respect for the Queen if she got stuck in to some meaningful politics, and defended our sovereignty and freedoms as a start! And I hope Charles gets even more involved in stuff as a King. What the hell is the point of them if they have absolutely no influence on our national life beoyond cutting ribbons and being given posies by kiddies?
- Sandy, Ealing, UK, 18/08/2009 12:53
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We do not need him or his comments. Can't he find some obscure island to play with his building bricks. Clarence House (nor indeed Buck House) is nothing to boast about
- Adam, London, England, 18/08/2009 12:45
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The comment that Charles made that (more or less) "the iconic and inspirational St. Paul's Cathedral should be allowed to shine bright" makes the point succinctly: don't let it be crowded by huge buildings. There is always millions of pounds involved in these developments, including kickbacks, and we 'the people' are left to hope that Councils and Committees will do the right thing for us and future generations. It can feel like a lottery.
- Rome Godwin, London W14, UK, 18/08/2009 12:37
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May I take this occasion to wish the Queen the best of health and say that I hope she lives for ever.
- Kate, London, 18/08/2009 12:20
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When will people realise that HRH The Prince of Wales does know what he is talking about! He was ahead of the entire planet on organic food and his views on architecture are based on his passionate belief and knowledge of what makes architecture part of the national fabric as opposed to being a blemish upon it. Remember too, these organisations of which the family are patrons, seek them out, they are not sought out by the family.
- Mark, Hong Kong, 18/08/2009 11:58
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I thought on his sister sorry brother Edward had hissy fits, and stamped his feet if he didn't get his own way LOL
- Daisy Willets, London, 18/08/2009 11:48
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This is straight-forward. If he doesn't like the design, he should resign - simple.
Charles is a frustrated man, an heir-in-waiting often with nothing better to do. Yes, he has many charitable schemes of which he can be rightly proud. But he sticks his nose in where it is not wanted or it inapprpriate for him to do so, where he becomes "fair game" for those who believe he crosses boundaries into politics or organisations where his interference can be seen as political.
Matt, I am not a republican but as heir to the Throne, he should begin, even at his age, to realise his duties as the future Monarch.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 18/08/2009 11:48
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Architecture certainly seems to be a Queenish occupation: that's EXACTLY how Lord Rogers behaved when the Olympic Design Committee wouldn't work the way HE wanted them to when he was some special, unelected, quango advisor thingie about architecture to the Mayor of London! Dear me: perhaps each project should be put to the public vote - that'd be fair . . .
- Roz, France, 18/08/2009 11:28
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The architectural profession deserves a thoroughly good kicking for its vulgarity and arrogance, and for its lamentable inability to design buildings that people actually like. I support Charles completely on this, and it's a pity that he seems to be a lone voice.
- Ken, Bexleyheath, 18/08/2009 11:27
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Good on you, Charles. At last we have someone that speaks commonsense in the face of the vested interests of the Architects' lobby. And remember, Charles doesn't make a penny from erecting the rubbish which currently distorts London's skyline and makes us the laughing stock of Europe.
- Ted, London, 18/08/2009 11:20
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To Matt of Telford, it is a fine line between a principled stand and throwing your toys out of the pram when you don't get your own way without thinking of the consequences. So lets look at the facts;
Over the last three years prince Charles comments have lead to over 2 billion pounds worth of projects being cancelled, and now it would appear that he wants to extend this tally possibly by a further £500mill. By my calculations 2 billion would be enough to keep 80,000 people employed on £25K for a year.
Given that we have 50% unemployment in the construction industry perhaps he should be meeting with the scaffolders, groundworkers and the rest of the workforce to really understand how his comments impact on society.
The man has no concept of reality and believes that everything is about taste, oh but it were that simple. Perhaps this is because he has never had to do anything practical out of necessity rather than choice. As William Morris (one of PC's idols)said "If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." unfortuantely Charles is not equiped to know what is useful as he has no experience of the real lives that we all have to live.
I would pay to see a meeting between him and some unemployed poverty line scaffolders.
- Angry Citizen, Frome, 18/08/2009 11:11
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how can a person who had one of the most expensive educations and came out with a minimum of qualifications be taken so serious, if it was joe bloggs off a council estate they would not even listen to him
- Anon, leicestershire, 18/08/2009 10:37
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Good let him go then, he and his whole family are nothing but well spoken inbred parasites.
Kings, Queens, Princes etc in the 21st century are laughable, if his mother was such a great person she wouldn't have signed the Lisbon Treaty, and all the other treaty's over the years, signing away Britania they so much love.
Put them all in flats in tower blocks, and on benefits.
- P Staker, London, 18/08/2009 10:24
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Good for him! Too many people lend their name to organisations or causes without thihking of the consequences. Prince Charles should be praised for this. I dare say some 'principle-lite' republicans will use this as an excuse to attack him.
- Matt, Telford, UK, 18/08/2009 09:50
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Should have let him quit. Architects are far more important to the future of the National Trust than a useless, reactionary prince whose tastes are more out of date than artex swirls.
- Andrew, Fareham, 18/08/2009 09:35
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