In the week ITV broadcasts a documentary about Prince William's homelessness project, Republic's CEO Graham Smith has written to him to ask for a meeting.
Graham Smith's criticisms of William's project were cited in the documentary, eliciting a dismissive response from the prince.
The letter sets out why William's homelessness campaign is likely to be counterproductive, "giving a false impression of the root causes and the possible solutions to homelessness."
In his letter Graham Smith says his criticism is designed to "raise wider questions about that inequality and the role of the monarchy in entrenching it, at great cost to the country."
He tells William, "My aim is not simply to criticise you personally, or to question your sincerity, but to challenge the underlying questions your homelessness project raises."
The letter challenges William to meet with Graham Smith, saying:
"If you are sincere in wanting to make a difference, and I have no reason to believe you are not, then such a challenging discussion can only be a good thing. It ought to give you pause for reflection on your position, status and unearned wealth and the role of the monarchy in entrenching the very inequalities that are at the root of the poverty and homelessness you wish to address."
"I doubt many people around you question what you're doing or set out the moral and political arguments against your position as a hereditary heir to the monarch. That’s why I believe you would find it useful and insightful for us to talk, to discuss the inherent iniquity of the monarchy, an institution that is founded on feudal values and principles of natural hierarchy, that was forged by economic injustice and political inequality."
The letter ends:
"You may dismiss this letter as a PR stunt, you may wish to avoid direct criticism or the challenging conversation that may ensue should we meet. But I am quite serious and sincere in wishing to meet with you, to discuss these issues and your position and that of the monarchy. I don’t claim to have all the answers to the wider issues of inequality, or that our meeting would produce significant changes in your approach. But it may give you reason to pause and to reflect on your own position and offer you some fresh perspectives, perspectives you are unlikely to hear from anyone else."
Graham Smith told reporters today:
"By suggesting homelessness can be solved permanently through charity and individual action, William is undermining the chances of achieving the political consensus and government investment that is needed for a permanent solution."
"It is disappointing that ITV, which has obligations to impartiality, would produce a puff piece for William. But I'm pleased to see some criticism has been included in the broadcast. Perhaps they should have focussed on a more critical approach, rather than use that criticism to fend off detractors."
"It's a shame ITV didn't challenge William when he dismisses critics. It would have been interesting to see how William responded had he been pressed on these issues."
"So I thought I'd write to William and offer to meet with him, to discuss those criticisms directly. To talk about why so many people see hypocrisy in his actions, or at least naivety, when the taxpayer spends more than half a billion pounds on the royals every year."
"I am quite sincere in my offer to meet, and I am happy to do so in confidence, revealing what was discussed only with his agreement."
"The monarchy is at the centre of a fundamentally unequal society, it is a source of privilege and power that helps sustain structural inequalities of power and wealth which entrench poverty and homelessness as a long term problem for the UK. Whether it's with me or someone else, I hope this will be discussed with William in the future."
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