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From The Times
May 15, 2006

It's my duty to help cure society's ills, says Prince

By Helen Nugent
THE Prince of Wales insists that it would be “criminally negligent” of him to stop his charity work.

In an interview to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Prince’s Trust, to be broadcast tomorrow, the heir to the throne speaks about the future of youth organisation.

He says: “It would be criminally negligent of me to go around this country and not actually want to try and do something about what I find there. I think that’s my duty to do so, if some people don’t like it that’s too bad, frankly.”

The Prince, who was bullied at boarding school, says that the regime there inspired him to establish the trust.

Speaking to the former newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald, Prince Charles says: “The main principle underlying the school was that to help the transition from childhood to adulthood you needed to give young adolescents responsibilities.”

The Prince started the trust in 1976 with his Navy pension. The charity helped young people to set up their own businesses in response to the Toxteth riots in Liverpool in 1981. Today the charity involves itself in areas of social policy, a stance that attracts criticism.

Prince Charles says: “You’re in a no-win situation, because if you do absolutely nothing they complain, and if you try and do something to help, they also complain.”

The Prince of Wales: Up Close is on ITV1 tomorrow at 9pm.

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