Prince Charles lobbied Scottish government

Britain’s Prince Charles privately lobbied the Scottish government to give funds to a food brand patronised by him, according to newly released memos.

Written between July 2007 and July 2010, the “black spider memos”, a reference to Charles’ handwriting, reveal the Prince’s attempts to influence Scottish government’s policy.

The release of portions of the letters under freedom of information laws was strongly opposed by the Prince but backed by former Scotland First Secretary Alex Salmond.

After initially being refused, ’The Sunday Herald’ was last week given extracts from six letters from the Prince and six replies from Salmond. The text of the rest of the letters has been kept secret. Agencies