Not Princely

The Guardian's revelation of pressure from Prince Charles on Land Securities in 2005, when they were about to build One New Change, next to St Paul's, is interesting on a range of fronts.

Firstly he wrote to the developers without sight of a design, but when the architect, Jean Nouvel, had been selected. Later in the story, the Guardian calculates that his architecture charity is involved in plans for 17,000 houses across the UK - more than Persimmon built last year.

The emerging picture is unpleasant. One might tolerate any citizen expostulating at daft designs once they emerge, and expressing views in any language short of libellous. But actively policing the work of architects that have a track record you don't like, pressuring developers, whilst being at the same time directly involved in construction yourself AND heir to the throne, is, to my mind, against the rules. Or rules that stop it ought to be written.