| Channel 4 axes Prince Charles interview over 'censorship' |
Britain's Channel Four News has reportedly axed a planned interview with Prince Charles after the heir to the throne demanded absolute control over the questions asked and subsequent editing of the program.
The conditions are contained in a detailed 15-page contract, which reportedly even gave Charles – potentially the future King of Australia – the right to pull the program if he was unhappy with it.
The Independent newspaper published details of the contract for the interview, to have been conducted in Paris by veteran journalist Jon Snow.
The document says the interviewer may ask only questions that had previously been approved by Charles' staff
"In the event that the Interviewer or any personnel of [the broadcaster] asks a question which has not been pre-approved, HRH or the member of [Clarence House's] staff present during the filming of the contribution may intervene and halt filming," it continues.
And if the interviewer does ask a question that has not been pre-vetted, the broadcaster "shall have no right to use or exploit in any form whatsoever any of the material filmed".
A Channel 4 spokesperson, quoted by The Guardian, confirmed the broadcaster had canned the interview.
"We do not sign pre-interview agreements, and interviewees appear on Channel 4 News on that basis," said the spokesperson. "We would still be delighted to interview Prince Charles."
A spokesperson for Clarence House claimed such contracts were "standard practice" for the royals.
"All broadcasters who enter into them are keen to ensure that they do not breach any of the relevant broadcast rules and go to great lengths to protect their independence in this regard," said the spokesperson. "The contracts are put in place to ensure factual accuracy and protect the broadcaster as well as the interview subject."
Charles has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the more media savvy members of the royal household but the extent to which he seeks to manicure his public image has been less visible.
Earlier this year the release of the so-called "black spider" letters revealed how far the self-described "meddling prince" goes to try and influence government policy, particularly in his areas of interest, such as housing policy and homeopathy
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