Ruling On Prince Of Wales Letters 'Unlawful'

The Court of Appeal has quashed a decision taken by the Attorney General to block the disclosure of communications between Prince Charles and seven Government ministers.

Judges ruled that Dominic Grieve, the Government's principal legal adviser, had "no good reason" for using his ministerial veto to block their publication following an appeal from Guardian journalist Rob Evans.

Mr Evans argued the Attorney General had failed to show "reasonable grounds" for overriding a previous court ruling, which allowed them to be made public.

The Upper Tribunal permitted the publication of the letters in September 2012 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), and under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Although the Government departments concerned did not object to the ruling, the Attorney General issued a certificate under section 53 of the FOIA and used his ministerial veto the following month to block their disclosure.

Mr Grieve justified the decision saying the departments were legally entitled to keep the contents of the letters private, as the correspondence was undertaken as part of the Prince's "preparation for becoming king".

He said publishing the letters could potentially damage the principle of the heir to the throne being politically neutral and undermine his duties when he takes the throne.

This decision has now been declared incompatible with European law.

The Attorney General has the right to appeal against Wednesday's ruling in the Supreme Court.

The letters will not yet be made public, pending a possible appeal.

Prince Charles' office at Clarence House has refused to comment.

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