Prince asked first minister to appoint experts to help his food brand develop low-carbon systems, and lobbied for funding for castle renovation

Prince Charles privately lobbied Alex Salmond, Scotland’s former first minister, to give money to his own Highland food brand, a stately home and other old buildings in Scotland, according to newly released letters.

Written between July 2007 and July 2010, the “black spider memos” – a reference to Charles’ handwriting – reveal the prince’s attempts to influence Scottish government policy.



The release of portions of the letters under freedom of information law was strongly opposed by the prince but backed by Salmond. After initially being refused, the Sunday Herald was last week given extracts from six letters from the prince and six replies from Salmond. The text of the rest of the letters has been kept secret.



In one extract from a letter dated 15 June 2009, Charles urged Salmond to give financial aid to the Soil Association in Scotland, of which he is the patron, for an initiative promoting healthier and more sustainable food.



“I wondered if it might be possible to investigate whether there could be some form of support to assist the Soil Association in avoiding having to cut back their capacity for this initiative,” the prince wrote.



In reply, Salmond pointed out that the Scottish government was already giving the association £148,563, but promised to see if more could be done.



“I have asked my officials to meet with Soil Association Scotland and discuss scope for further support in respect of opportunities identified in Your Royal Highness’s letter,” he wrote on 30 June 2009.



“I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Royal Highness’s most humble and obedient servant,” Salmond signed off. The former first minister told the Sunday Herald that that was the last time he used this traditional form of words because he thought it was “inappropriate to a democratic age”.



In another letter, on 7 June 2008, the prince asked Salmond to appoint experts to help his food brand, Mey Selections, develop low-carbon systems.

The same year, Charles lobbied unsuccessfully for the government’s conservation agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, to be allowed to give £2m towards renovating the derelict Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum.



On 1 July 2007, the prince expressed his “heartfelt thanks” for the Scottish government’s donation of £5m towards the purchase of Dumfries House, a stately home near Cumnock, in East Ayrshire.

Republic, a group campaigning for an end to the monarchy, accused the heir to the throne of political meddling and called for all of the prince’s letters to ministers to be published.



“The Scottish government is not a plaything for bored royals on a mission,” Graham Smith, the group’s chief executive, told the Herald. “We need full disclosure of Prince Charles’s letters so we can all see the full extent of his political meddling. Scottish voters need to know whether government policy and spending of public money are being based on the best judgment of ministers or on pressure from royals.”



Salmond defended the prince – who is known in Scotland as the Duke of Rothesay – saying he had not interfered in party politics but raised matters of public interest.

“We should be pleased that Prince Charles has these concerns,” he said, suggesting it would be “ridiculous” if he were prevented from writing to ministers like anyone else.



A Clarence House spokesperson said: “The Duke of Rothesay cares deeply about the United Kingdom, and tries to use his unique position to help others. He has devoted most of his working life to helping individuals and organisations, to make a difference for the better of this country and the world.” said the spokesperson.



Clarence House pointed out that the prince carried out more than 600 engagements a year, giving him a unique perspective. “These letters released by the Scottish government show the Duke of Rothesay expressing concern about issues that he has raised in public such as the preservation and regeneration of historic buildings and the benefits of sustainable food supply chains.”



In May and June this year, the UK government released 44 of the prince’s private letters to UK ministers, after losing a 10-year freedom of information battle with the Guardian. The case prompted the government to give senior royals an absolute exemption to freedom of information requests.

