Prince Charles Reportedly Threatened To Resign From The National Trust Unless Changes Were Made

Prince Charles allegedly threatened to resign as president of The National Trust unless the organization changed the design of its headquarters. Britain's Guardian newspaper claims a senior royal aide told the trust that the designs for the £14.5 million [$24 million] building in Swindon, south west England, were "not green enough" for the royal.

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The aide then warned Charles would withdraw his patronage if the plans were not changed.

The threat was reportedly issued during a meeting between Charles' former private secretary and representatives from the charity at St James' Palace shortly after the prince took over the trust presidency in 2003.

Clarence House refused to confirm the reports, but said: "What the Prince wouldn't do is open or endorse a building that didn't adhere to his own principles on sustainability and design."

The prince is said to have been eventually "persuaded of the scheme's merits" and the new headquarters were built.

It's not the first time Charles has caused controversy in the architecture world.

The 60-year-old royal was accused of "single handedly destroying" the Chelsea Barracks development project after he wrote a letter to the Qatari royal family - which owns the site - to complain about the "modernist" look of the proposed buildings.

His actions led to the £3 billion [$5 billion] proposals being abandoned in June, just days before it was due to be considered by Westminster council.

After asking The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment to suggest alternative architects, the developers have compiled a shortlist of 10 firms who have been invited to submit their ideas for the site.

Half of those companies have confirmed links to Charles.

The prince also complained about a "modernist" development near London's St Paul's cathedral in 2005.

He wrote a private letter to commercial developer Land Securities recommending Jean Nouvel - who had been commissioned to design the £500 million [$820 million] office and shopping concert next to Christopher Wren's church - be fired in favor of one of his preferred designers.