Transcript: Prince Charles

Prince Charles Talks To Steve Kroft

(CBS) 

KROFT: Your charities and your work to a large extent is a reflection of your interest. And you can look at your various charities and draw the conclusion that you have some suspicions of some of the professional elites of medicine, science, technology, lawyers. Where does that come from?

PRINCE CHARLES: It comes from basically, I think, my being a teenager in the 1960s, and witnessing, I thought, the deliberate destruction and demolition of so many of the, you know, the worthwhile aspects of life all thrown away in and a terrific overexcitement about, you know, here we are. You know, we’re rushing towards a marvelously bright, shining, progressive future. So, let’s get rid of all the old traditional nonsenses that don’t matter anymore. So, what happened was, I felt strongly that we were throwing away the baby with the bathwater. And maybe there were bits of bathwater that needed throwing away, alright, but we’ve thrown away too much. All I’ve been trying to do is remind the professionals that perhaps, you know, it’d be worth looking at things in a more integrated manner, instead of this zoned element.

What we’ve done in medicine for instance, I think, it’s done wonders, medicine, obviously in the 21rst century and made a vast difference in people’s lives.

But at the same time, I think they’re beginning to find that we’re also creating all sorts of side effects, which I believe can be mitigated by remembering that we are made of mind, body, and spirit, not just one thing, just a body, which is treated like a machine, which is the way it’s gone. So I was just trying to remind the profession that perhaps, you know, some of these more traditional elements based on ancient wisdom and knowledge -- particularly wisdom about the nature and what you can extract from plants and the value that they can have in our world now – increasingly is worth remembering. Same thing with the architectural profession. Same thing with the agricultural.

KROFT: Are you trying to stop progress?

PRINCE CHARLES: No, not at all. I’m just trying to say that we ought to redefine the way in which progress is seen. Is it progress to rush headlong into upsetting the whole balance of nature, which is what I think we’re beginning to do? You know, if you look at the latest figures on climate change and global warming, they’re terrifying. Terrifying. Let alone the immense demands on resources that are being increasingly made by, you know, 1.3 billion people in China. And that’s leaving aside India. How are we going to cope? How are we going to supply the, you know, the demand without thinking about redefining our economic models? I mean, what is the point of going on and saying, “This is the best one,” without stopping to review it in light of what we’re beginning to discover, that we’re doing to the world around us? So, I’m not anti-progress. I’m just suggesting that a progress of everlasting growth may not be the ideal way of looking at it now. But now that we can make such huge impacts on the world around us -- we never were able to make impacts to that degree before, but now we can really seriously muck about with things -- all I am trying to say is that we should just learn from the things we’ve thrown away that can be the immense value as a means of survival.

KROFT: You’re about to go to the United States. You have not been in 20 years. Did we do something to offend you 20 years ago that it’s taken you that long to get back?

PRINCE CHARLES: I haven’t been for 20 years officially.

KROFT: Oh, officially. You’ve been there since?

PRINCE CHARLES: Oh sure, I’ve been since. I can’t remember. But the trouble is, there’s an awful lot of other places to go, I suppose. You don’t want to see me all the time. You’d get bored. (LAUGHS)

[Note: In recent years Prince Charles has been on various visits to the United States – attending, for example, the funeral of Ronald Reagan – but this is his first official tour of the United States in 20 years. Mr. Kroft and Prince Charles continue discussing the Prince’s upcoming trip . . .]

KROFT: What do you hope to accomplish?

PRINCE CHARLES: I rather hope that, you know, I might be able to raise some of these issues there, because the United States is of enormous importance in the world. What happens in the States could affect everything in the world around us. So, that’s one of the reasons why I think it’s so important to talk about these issues and with others who also mind about these things. And also, you know, I have lots of friends in the United States, and I see so many people from there all the time, whether they’re here or elsewhere in the world and we have so many—so many things in common in many ways.

KROFT: You’re favorably disposed towards the U.S.?

PRINCE CHARLES: (LAUGHS) Absolutely, yes. But I think because the United States has such an incredible influence on world events, you know, I think some of these issues I’ve been talking about are, you know, are of immense importance. I don’t know. People may disagree. But as again, the proof will be in the pudding. I happen to mind about, you know, my grandchildren and your grandchildren. Now, that’s something that people pay lip service to.

The great thing about the United States, I may say so, is remembering what your red Indian population -- how they used to think about these things. The Sioux Indians, for instance, never did anything without thinking about the seventh unborn generation. See, these are things worth remembering. You may say it’s old-fashioned. But by God, it’s worth remembering.

KROFT: It seems like you have reached a certain point in your life where your children are grown, you’ve remarried. Your mother is approaching a significant birthday. It seems like your life is very stable and you seem very content in your job and your work.

PRINCE CHARLES: If you think that that’s what it all appears, I am thrilled and delighted. (LAUGHS) And we’ll see what, you know, the American people make of it when we come. But, you know, both my wife and I are looking forward to it very much indeed. You know, the American people are so friendly and jolly and interested in all sorts of things, and open to ideas, which is always enjoyable. There are lots of things that I’ve managed to take from the United States and bring back here, and try and, you know, shake people about.

I mean, I remember 30 years ago I came to the States and we found out about some of the environmental things being done even then, like extracting methane gas from landfill sites and turning the landfill site eventually into a golf course. And I said, “Come on,” over here. “Why don’t we look at, you know, these.” Nothing was ever done.

So, there are lots of things that are going on in the States which are of real value. And I occasionally will do things here which might be of interest there. But I’ve got lots of things going here to help people in inner cities and goodness knows what else from really imaginative projects developed in the United States.

KROFT: Is there anything you’re looking forward to doing there? Anything you’re looking forward to taking the Duchess and showing -- anything that you remember from your last visit? Are you going to get a favorite coffee or a meal or . . .

PRINCE CHARLES: (LAUGHS) I shouldn’t think so, no. I mean, the problem is that it’s quite a long time. You know, these official visits are quite difficult to escape, you know, to go to places. Be nice to do it privately. But I have to wait for other occasions.

But hopefully back in California, because I remember going there when I was in the Navy, the Royal Navy. Again, 30 years ago. And my ship went to San Diego, and I remember spending time there and then going to San Francisco and places from there. It was great fun then, because you can imagine, it was easier for me at that point.

KROFT:Do you ever . . .

PRINCE CHARLES: Not quite so easy.

KROFT: . . . get to do anything privately?

PRINCE CHARLES: Yes. But it’s not so easy nowadays. I can’t. (LAUGHS) I’d love to. But, unfortunately, I seem to be, you know, people seem to know about it or invent it. (LAUGHS)