Prince Charles to give evidence at child sexual abuse inquiry

Prince Charles is set to provide evidence next week at an inquiry into child sexual abuse in the UK.

The 69-year-old royal will have a written statement read during the long-running inquiry, which is investigating the handling of accusations levelled against former Church of England bishop, Peter Ball.

Ball was jailed three years ago for sexually abusing men in the 1970s, however the inquiry is now looking into whether there was interference in the justice process.

The Guardian reports Ball describing Prince Charles as a “close friend”, with the pair exchanging letters while Ball was the bishop of Gloucester – in which diocese the prince’s Highgrove home falls within.

The publication also reported that Ball rented a cottage on the prince’s Duchy of Cornwall estate after a caution from police for gross indecency following an allegation in 1993.

Counsel to the child abuse inquiry Fiona Scolding QC last month told the inquiry that Prince Charles had been asked to give a witness statement.

“The prince’s solicitors have indicated their client’s willingness to assist us and have raised a number of important issues for us to consider,” the Guardian reported Scolding saying at the time.

Clarence House also issued a statement at the time, saying, “While the Prince has made it clear he was unaware of the extent of Mr Ball’s behaviour, he has indicated he is more than willing to provide context on his contact with Mr Ball, as his former local bishop, if that would help the inquiry.”

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