So Prince Charles has won the right to keep his thoughts to himself. He already has probably the most lonely job in the world and now, with his legal battle with the Mail on Sunday, he's made it lonelier still.
The Prince has a pointless job. His life only gains the true purpose he was born for if his mother dies. That's a devil of a deal. Sadly for Charles she will not abdicate - and if she lives as long as her mum, he won't be king until he is almost in his 80s.
And now he has robbed himself of the only useful purpose he could still politically serve. Over the years, and, oddly, particularly with his stance over China, Prince Charles had carved a niche for himself as an almost-monarch with strong views.
But now he has had the courts declare his private views private. Before this legal action, what were the Great British public to believe? Although unspoken directly, we were led to believe that we knew what Charles thought. But now he can't play that tipping game - ruling by briefing - again. If he wants to let people know that he disapproves of China, he is damn well going to have to say it.
We have been humouring him. His thoughts actually carry no constitutional weight. They were only interesting because the press passed them on to the populace. Now they can't - maybe even won't - do that. So what is the point of Charles for the next two decades?
.png?w=600)
