A campaign group has criticised the decision to allow Britain's Prince Charles access to Cabinet documents.
Prince Charles
Republic, which got the information after a three-year Freedom of Information battle, called the prince's access "wrong" and questioned whether there was any real benefit to the move, as has been subsequently suggested by the Cabinet.
In a letter addressed to British Prime Minister David Cameron, the group said: "It is plainly wrong that Charles can lobby on new policy proposals even before the public are aware of the existence of such proposals."
Prince Charles had "no legitimate need" to see the papers, according to Republic's chief executive Graham Smith.
He said: "The disclosure of Cabinet papers to Prince Charles is quite extraordinary and completely unacceptable, not only because they would contain highly classified information but because it gives him considerable advantage in pressing his own agenda when lobbying ministers."
Smith added: "Charles is essentially a minister not attending cabinet."
The move has also been criticised by Labour MP Paul Flynn, who has called for a parliamentary inquiry.
He said the decision to allow Charles access to the Cabinet papers made him the country's "best-informed lobbyist".
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