Prince Charles set to guest edit longstanding black newspaper

The Prince of Wales is to guest edit a special issue of Britain’s only surviving black newspaper, calling its work a “crucial part of the fabric of our society”.

The Prince will edit The Voice in honour of its 40th anniversary, inviting guests Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Dame Floella Benjamin and actor Idris Elba to write for its pages.

The newspaper’s editor said the Prince’s awareness of “how far we have to go to be a truly equal society” was “reason to be hopeful” for the future, telling readers they “may be surprised” at the parallels between his campaigning work and theirs.

The Voice was founded in 1982 and is now the only national black British newspaper still printing in the UK.

A palace spokesman said the special issue would celebrate the achievements of the black community over the last 40 years, as well as shining a spotlight on the Prince’s charities.

‘Part of the fabric of our society’

Prince Charles said: “Over the last four decades, with all the enormous changes that they have witnessed, Britain’s only surviving black newspaper has become an institution and a crucial part of the fabric of our society.

“This is why I was so touched to be invited to edit this special edition.”

He has overseen a list of notable writers, with topics including climate change, the Commonwealth, religion and the arts.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence will reveal a new partnership between the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation and the Prince’s Foundation to provide arts scholarships for young disadvantaged people from diverse backgrounds.

Baroness Floella Benjamin will speak about her involvement in the Windrush Portraits project, which will see 10 members of the Windrush generation captured for posterity in paintings commissioned by the Prince.

Idris Elba, the actor who was also a DJ at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will recall how the Prince’s Trust grant he received at the age of 16 “opened doors that changed my life”.

Other interviewees include Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo speaking about her new role as president of the Royal Society of Literature and support for the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room; and Wanjira Mathai, daughter of climate change activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai.

Paulette Simpson, the newspaper’s executive editor, said: “The Voice is an integral part of the black community and has shared authentic stories of the lived experience of black people over the last four decades through their voices.

“It has campaigned on issues and celebrated successes, often in areas that were ignored by the mainstream media.

“It is therefore a unique record of black British lives and will be a historic record for future generations.

“We are pleased that through his involvement at this special time, the Prince of Wales acknowledges the role of The Voice in its efforts over the last 40 years to create a more inclusive society and highlights issues that he has supported.

“It is my hope that this will be an example for others of working collaboratively to create positive change for our country.”

‘Parallels between the issues’

Lester Holloway, The Voice’s editor, added: “Our readers may be surprised at the parallels between the issues which The Voice has campaigned on for four decades and the work the Prince of Wales has been involved in over the same period, often behind the scenes.

“In past decades these causes were once scorned and ridiculed, but today they are widely acknowledged.

“Yet all the research tells us how far we have to go to be a truly equal society.

“The Prince has an awareness of this, and that in itself is a reason to be hopeful.”

The Prince of Wales’s special edition will be published on Sept 1.