Britain’s Prince Charles published his first corporate-style annual report on Wednesday, and set tongues wagging by mentioning his consort Camilla Parker Bowles for the first time in an official document.
The heir to the throne has promised to modernize his public relations after a year of the most damaging press since his divorce from the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
His new media advisor Paddy Harverson, lured over from Manchester United soccer team, presented the new full-color 50-page “annual review” to assembled reporters at the prince’s office.
The report, packed with corporate buzz-words like “synergy” and “catalyst,” lists the prince’s jobs as supporting the Queen, promoting Britain and working as a “charitable entrepreneur” who helped raise 100 million pounds last year.
It also proudly declares that it is printed on paper of wood “from a forest that is well managed according to strict environmental, social and economic standards.”
In a section devoted to his personal expenses, which the prince pays for out of the income of his private estate, he disclosed that he supports his sons, Princes William and Harry, and pays “some personal costs of Mrs. Parker Bowles.”
Almost the exact same sentence appeared when he published accounts in a more modest form last year -- without the reference to Camilla Parker Bowles, Charles’s long-time lover.
Charles’s private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, said the only reason her expenses had never been mentioned before was that the prince had never published his accounts in quite this way.
“It’s the first time that it’s been in print, but it’s the first time we’ve had an opportunity to put it in print,” he said.
Parker Bowles has slowly emerged into public life, appearing at functions with the prince, but the palace has taken great pains to play down a gradual change in her status.
Her emergence has fuelled speculation that Charles would finally marry her. Sir Michael said that question was “I’m afraid, out of my league.”