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The "black spider" memos are letters and memos written by Charles, Prince of Wales, to British government ministers and politicians over the years. As the modern British monarch remains politically neutral by tradition, the letters are controversial because of Prince of Wales' position as the eldest child of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II and heir apparent to the British throne. The letters are sent by Charles in a private capacity, but concerns have been raised that they may represent the exercise of undue influence over British government ministers. Charles has described himself as a "meddling prince". Issues that Charles has expressed views about in public include farming, genetic modification, global warming, social deprivation, planning and architecture. Originally, the content of the black spider letters was known only anecdotally and from memoirs and leaks until 13 May 2015 when the Information Tribunal ordered the release of most of the correspondence.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Prince of Wales correspondence with government departments )〕 These events were set in motion in 2010, when ''The Guardian'' journalist Rob Evans made an application under British Freedom of Information legislation to see the Prince's 2004 and 2005 letters to ministers. After several legal cases the application was eventually refused by the Attorney General Dominic Grieve in October 2012, and the case was the subject of an appeal in the Supreme Court, who in March 2015 ruled against the government's decision, and allowed for the later publication of the letters. ==Background== Charles' letters are written by hand before being sent to be typed up. After the letters are returned to Charles to sign, he often adds additional comments in flowing black or red ink across the page using underlining and exclamation marks. It is these additions and his distinctive handwriting that have given his letters their nickname.〔 Charles has written to ministers on the understanding that his remarks are private.〔 Letters to ministers have also been sent from the Prince's charities, foundations and campaign groups. These letters have been described as "advocacy correspondence", written by the Prince to advance the work of his charities or in an attempt to promote his views. The principal private secretary to the Prince of Wales, Sir Michael Peat, said in 2007 that the Prince "...is always very careful to ensure he is not politically contentious or party political, and as far as I am aware even his most ardent critic has never suggested he is."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Black spider memos」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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