20:48

Beef farming, dairy quotas, the power of supermarkets, Lynx helicopters, badger culling, Irish gaols, the fate of sea birds, derelict hospitals, listed buildings, Scott and Shackleton’s Antarctic huts, summer schools, old-fashioned teaching methods, herbal medicines and of course, albatrosses and the Patagonian toothfish - in just six months Prince Charles filled ministers’ pigeon-holes with idiosyncratic lobbying letters covering an astonishing array of issues. Ministers fought to keep the correspondence secret and it took the Guardian 10 years to see them published.

So what did Prince Charles write about?

He expressed strong concern over difficulties faced by the military in Iraq, particularly resources and the poor performance of Lynx helicopters (see 16.39).

The Prince of Wales delves in to great detail on farming and environment issues from badger culls, to farming subsidies, bureaucratic red tape and the “arm lock” of the supermarkets (sees 16.53).

Prince Charles urges ministers to protect listed buildings from demolition (see 16.59).

He asks ministers to bend the rules and supply funding to overseas heritage projects, in this case, the Antarctic huts used by Scott and Shackleton (see 17.06).

The future monarch calls for greater priority to be placed on protecting the Patagonian toothfish and in turn, the albatross (see 17.21).

The Prince of Wales lobbies for a specific individual to be given a job as an agricultural arbitrator (see 17.59).

Prince Charles pushes for greater attention to be given to the redevelopment of a derelict hospital, which his own charity had worked on (see 18.23).

He discusses his “old fashioned views” on how teachers should do their jobs - and dismisses a modern notion that they act as “facilitators” or “coaches” (see 18.52).

How does Prince Charles feel about the letters being published?

Clarence House issued a statement on behalf of the Prince, in which it argues that Prince Charles has a right to communicate privately - and it holds up Government changes to the freedom of information act as evidence that others share this view (see 19.04).

The publication of private letters can only inhibit his ability to express the concerns and suggestions which have been put to him in the course of his travels and meetings.

The Guardian view

The papers reveal one big thing that matters. It is no secret that the prince likes to lobby for his causes. That’s why the FOI request was made. What these papers show is the sheer breadth and depth of the lobbying, which stretches from Downing Street to Northern Ireland, via education, health, culture, the environment and defence.

Read the full editorial here.



Best quote from the black spider memos

You kindly suggested that it would be helpful if I put them in writing - despite the Freedom of Information Act!

Charles has a prescient moment when he jokes with Tony Blair about the prospect of his letters being revealed in the future.

Oddest request

Fishing for Patagonian toothfish near a pod of killer whales Photograph: Paul Sutherland/National Geographic/Getty Images

I particularly hope that the illegal fishing of the Patagonian Toothfish will be high on your list of priorities because until that trade is stopped, there is little hope for the poor old Albatross.

Punchbag of the day - Michael Crick

Channel 4’s Michael Crick fell foul of the wrath of Prince Charles’s top media advisor earlier when he dared to raise the subject of the black spider memos.

Kristina Kyriacou, who used to represent pop-stars Cheryl Cole and Gary Barlow, barely flinched when duty called as her protectee was confronted by the dogged reporter.

What next?



It’s unlikely letters like these will be seen again. In 2010, the government tightened the rules so that there is an absolute exemption prohibiting the release of any correspondence between public authorities and the monarch or heir.

Furthermore, David Cameron is to try to build up a cross-party consensus with the aim of guaranteeing that ministers will be able to veto the publication of documents under freedom of information requests in exceptional circumstances.

But groups like anti-monarchy campaigners Republic and the Campaign for Freedom of Information have called for the changes to FoI laws to be reversed so expect growing calls for greater transparency.

That’s it from me and this special live blog. I have the honour to remain, sir, your most humble and obedient servant. Jamie Grierson.