The British government has published confidential letters from Prince Charles to ministries on a range of issues, including defence resources and farming, following a 10-year press freedom legal battle to have them released.
In the letters, known as the “black spider memos” because of his spindly handwriting, Prince Charles wrote to then prime minister Tony Blair to express concern over equipment provided to British troops in Iraq.
The letters date back to 2004 and 2005.
The eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II also voiced concern about conditions for British farmers and urged the preservation of Britain’s historic buildings.
He also makes a recommendation for a nomination.
The prince's Clarence House office immediately released a statement criticising the release, which was approved by the Supreme Court in March.
"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 statement said.
Some of the letters obtained by The Guardian newspaper under the Freedom of Information act appeared on the government's cabinet office website.
They revealed that Prince Charles told Mr Blair of his fears that "our Armed Forces are being asked to do an extremely challenging job (particularly in Iraq) without the necessary resources".
He called for action to help British dairy and beef farmers and an immediate cull of badgers to prevent another health scare like Mad Cow Disease.
The prince also wrote to the Northern Ireland minister to advocate the preservation of historic buildings in the province.
