Social interests Charles, Prince of Wales

1 social interests

1.1 philanthropy , charity
1.2 built environment
1.3 livery company commitments
1.4 natural environment
1.5 alternative medicine
1.6 religious , philosophical interests

social interests
philanthropy , charity

since founding prince s trust in 1976, charles has established sixteen more charitable organisations, , serves president of of those. together, these form loose alliance called prince s charities, describes largest multi-cause charitable enterprise in united kingdom, raising on £100 million annually ... [and is] active across broad range of areas including education , young people, environmental sustainability, built environment, responsible business , enterprise , international.

in 2010, prince s charities canada established in similar fashion namesake in uk. charles patron of on 350 other charities , organisations, , carries out duties related these throughout commonwealth realms; example, uses tours of canada way draw attention youth, disabled, environment, arts, medicine, elderly, heritage conservation, , education. in canada, charles has supported humanitarian projects, example taking part, along 2 sons, in ceremonies marking 1998 international day elimination of racial discrimination. charles has set prince s charities australia, based in melbourne, victoria. prince s charities australia provide coordinating presence prince of wales’s australian , international charitable endeavors.

charles 1 of first world leaders express strong concerns human rights record of romanian dictator nicolae ceaușescu, initiating objections in international arena, , subsequently supported fara foundation, charity romanian orphans , abandoned children.

in 2013, charles donated unspecified sum of money british red cross syria crisis appeal , dec syria appeal, run 14 british charities victims of syrian civil war. according guardian, believed after turning 65 years old in 2013, charles donated state pension unnamed charity supports elderly people. in march 2014, charles arranged 5 million measles-rubella vaccinations children in philippines on outbreak of measles in south-east asia. according clarence house, charles affected news of damage caused typhoon yolanda in 2013. international health partners, of has been patron since 2004, sent vaccines, believed protect 5 million children below age of 5 measles.

built environment

the prince of wales has openly expressed views on architecture , urban planning, fostering advancement of new classical architecture, , asserting care[s] issues such environment, architecture, inner-city renewal, , quality of life. in speech given 150th anniversary of royal institute of british architects (riba) on 30 may 1984, memorably described proposed extension national gallery in london monstrous carbuncle on face of much-loved friend , deplored glass stumps , concrete towers of modern architecture. asserted possible, , important in human terms, respect old buildings, street plans , traditional scales , @ same time not feel guilty preference facades, ornaments , soft materials, called local community involvement in architectural choices, , asked:

why can t have curves , arches express feeling in design? wrong them? why has got vertical, straight, unbending, @ right angles – , functional?

the prince of wales @ newly opened @ bristol, 14 june 2000

his book , bbc documentary vision of britain (1987) critical of modern architecture, , has continued campaign traditional urbanism, human scale, restoration of historic buildings, , sustainable design, despite criticism in press. 2 of charities (the prince s regeneration trust , prince s foundation building community) promote views, , village of poundbury built on land owned duchy of cornwall master plan léon krier under guidance of prince charles , in line philosophy.

charles helped establish national trust built environment in canada after lamenting, in 1996, unbridled destruction of many of country s historic urban cores. offered assistance department of canadian heritage in creating trust modelled on britain s national trust, plan implemented passage of 2007 canadian federal budget. in 1999, prince agreed use of title prince of wales prize municipal heritage leadership, awarded heritage canada foundation municipal governments have shown sustained commitment conservation of historic places. while visiting united states , surveying damage caused hurricane katrina, charles received national building museum s vincent scully prize in 2005, efforts in regard architecture; donated $25,000 of prize money towards restoring storm-damaged communities.

from 1997, prince of wales has visited romania view , highlight destruction of orthodox monasteries , transylvanian saxon villages during communist rule of nicolae ceaușescu. charles patron of mihai eminescu trust, romanian conservation , regeneration organisation, , has purchased house in romania. historian tom gallagher wrote in romanian newspaper românia liberă in 2006 charles had been offered romanian throne monarchists in country; offer reportedly turned down, buckingham palace denied reports. charles has deep understanding of islamic art , architecture , , has been involved in construction of building , garden @ oxford centre islamic studies combine islamic , oxford architectural styles.

charles has intervened in projects employ architectural styles such modernism , functionalism. in 2009, charles wrote qatari royal family, developers of chelsea barracks site, labelling lord rogers s design site unsuitable . subsequently, rogers removed project , prince s foundation built environment appointed propose alternative. rogers claimed prince had intervened block designs royal opera house , paternoster square, , condemned charles s actions abuse of power , unconstitutional . lord foster, zaha hadid, jacques herzog, jean nouvel, renzo piano, , frank gehry, among others, wrote letter sunday times complaining prince s private comments , behind-the-scenes lobbying subverted open , democratic planning process . piers gough , other architects condemned charles s views elitist in letter encouraging colleagues boycott speech given charles riba in 2009.

in 2010, prince s foundation built environment decided reconstruct , redesign buildings in port-au-prince, haiti after capital destroyed 2010 haiti earthquake. foundation known refurbishing historic buildings in kabul, afghanistan , in kingston, jamaica. project has been called biggest challenge yet prince s foundation built environment. work patron of new classical architecture, in 2012 awarded driehaus architecture prize patronage. prize, awarded university of notre dame, considered highest architecture award new classical architecture , urban planning.

livery company commitments

the worshipful company of carpenters installed charles honorary liveryman in recognition of interest in london s architecture. prince of wales permanent master of worshipful company of shipwrights, freeman of worshipful company of drapers, honorary freeman of worshipful company of musicians, honorary member of court of assistants of worshipful company of goldsmiths, , royal liveryman of worshipful company of gardeners.

natural environment

the prince of wales , duchess of cornwall meeting federal emergency management agency officials in louisiana, arrive tour damage created hurricane katrina, november 2005

since 1980s, charles has promoted environmental awareness. upon moving highgrove house, developed interest in organic farming, culminated in 1990 launch of own organic brand, duchy originals, sells more 200 different sustainably produced products, food garden furniture; profits (over £6 million 2010) donated prince s charities. documenting work on estate, charles co-authored (with charles clover, environment editor of daily telegraph) highgrove: experiment in organic gardening , farming, published in 1993, , offers patronage garden organic. along similar lines, prince of wales became involved farming , various industries within it, regularly meeting farmers discuss trade. although 2001 foot-and-mouth epidemic in england prevented charles visiting organic farms in saskatchewan, met farmers @ assiniboia town hall. in 2004, founded mutton renaissance campaign, aims support british sheep farmers , make mutton more attractive britons. organic farming has attracted media criticism: according independent in october 2006, story of duchy originals has involved compromises , ethical blips, wedded determined merchandising programme.

in 2007, received 10th annual global environmental citizen award harvard medical school s center health , global environment, director of which, eric chivian, stated: decades prince of wales has been champion of natural world ... has been world leader in efforts improve energy efficiency , in reducing discharge of toxic substances on land, , air , oceans . charles s travels private jet drew criticism plane stupid s joss garman.

in 2007, charles launched prince s may day network, encourages businesses take action on climate change. speaking european parliament on 14 february 2008, called european union leadership in war against climate change. during standing ovation followed, nigel farage, leader of united kingdom independence party (ukip), remained seated , went on describe charles s advisers naive , foolish @ best. in speech low carbon prosperity summit in european parliament chamber on 9 february 2011, charles said climate change sceptics playing reckless game of roulette planet s future , having corrosive effect on public opinion. articulated need protect fisheries , amazon rain forest, , make low-carbon emissions affordable , competitive.

in 2011, charles received royal society protection of birds medal engagement environment, such conservation of rainforests.

on 27 august 2012, prince of wales addressed international union conservation of nature – world conservation congress, supporting view grazing animals needed keep soils , grassland productive:

i have been particularly fascinated, example, work of remarkable man called allan savory, in zimbabwe , other semi arid areas, has argued years against prevailing expert view simple numbers of cattle drive overgrazing , cause fertile land become desert. on contrary, has since shown graphically, land needs presence of feeding animals , droppings cycle complete, soils , grassland areas stay productive. such that, if take grazers off land , lock them away in vast feedlots, land dies.

in february 2014, charles visited somerset levels meet residents affected winter flooding. during visit, charles remarked there s nothing jolly disaster people start doing something. tragedy nothing happened long. pledged £50,000 donation, provided prince s countryside fund, families , businesses.

alternative medicine

the prince of wales , duchess of cornwall nih director elias zerhouni , surgeon-general richard carmona, november 2005

charles has controversially championed alternative medicine. prince s foundation integrated health attracted opposition scientific , medical community on campaign encouraging general practitioners offer herbal , other alternative treatments national health service patients, , in may 2006, charles made speech @ world health assembly in geneva, urging integration of conventional , alternative medicine , arguing homeopathy.

in april 2008, times published letter edzard ernst, professor of complementary medicine @ university of exeter, asked prince s foundation recall 2 guides promoting alternative medicine, saying majority of alternative therapies appear clinically ineffective, , many downright dangerous. speaker foundation countered criticism stating: entirely reject accusation our online publication complementary healthcare: guide contains misleading or inaccurate claims benefits of complementary therapies. on contrary, treats people adults , takes responsible approach encouraging people @ reliable sources of information ... can make informed decisions. foundation not promote complementary therapies. year, ernst published book simon singh, mockingly dedicated hrh prince of wales called trick or treatment: alternative medicine on trial. last chapter highly critical of charles s advocacy of complementary , alternative treatments.

the prince s duchy originals produce variety of complementary medicinal products including detox tincture edzard ernst has denounced financially exploiting vulnerable , outright quackery . in 2009, advertising standards authority criticised email duchy originals had sent out advertise echina-relief, hyperi-lift , detox tinctures products saying misleading. prince wrote @ least 7 letters medicines , healthcare products regulatory agency (mhra) shortly before relaxed rules governing labelling of such herbal products, move has been condemned scientists , medical bodies. in october 2009, reported charles had lobbied health secretary, andy burnham, regarding greater provision of alternative treatments in nhs. in 2016 charles said in speech used homeopathic veterinary medicines reduce antibiotic use @ farm.

in april 2010, following accounting irregularities, former official @ foundation , wife arrested fraud believed total £300,000. 4 days later, foundation announced closure, claiming has achieved key objective of promoting use of integrated health. charity s finance director, accountant george gray, convicted of theft totalling £253,000 , sentenced 3 years in prison. prince s foundation re-branded , re-launched later in 2010 college of medicine.

religious , philosophical interests

czech orthodox priest jaroslav Šuvarský prince of wales in 2010

prince charles confirmed @ age 16 archbishop of canterbury michael ramsey @ easter 1965, in st george s chapel, windsor castle. attends services @ various anglican churches close highgrove, , attends church of scotland s crathie kirk rest of royal family when staying @ balmoral castle. in 2000, appointed lord high commissioner general assembly of church of scotland. charles has visited (amid secrecy) orthodox monasteries several times on mount athos in romania. charles patron of oxford centre islamic studies @ university of oxford, , in 2000s, inaugurated of markfield institute of higher education, dedicated islamic studies in plural multicultural context.

sir laurens van der post became friend of charles in 1977; dubbed spiritual guru , godfather charles s son, prince william. van der post, prince charles developed focus on philosophy, of asian , middle eastern nations. has praised kabbalistic artworks, , wrote memorial kathleen raine, neoplatonist poet died in 2003.

charles expressed philosophical views in 2010 book, harmony: new way of looking @ our world, won nautilus book award. although had been rumoured charles vow defender of faiths or defender of faith king, stated in 2015 retain monarch s traditional title of defender of faith , whilst ensuring other people s faiths can practised , sees duty of church of england.