Yet that does not prevent republican newspapers from threatening that he must “remain neutral if he wishes to become king” and complaining that “an unelected royal is meddling in the affairs of democratic government”. In fact, Prince Charles knows perfectly well that he cannot pursue all his causes once he succeeds to the throne, which is why he is promoting them so vigorously now. Until his accession, however, he has the same right as any other privy councillor to make private representations to the government on matters of public interest. Indeed, any government that ignored the views of someone who has thought so deeply for so long about such important matters would be failing in its duty.