King Charles's unearthed letter reveals monarch's 'hatred' for political correctness

In private correspondence from 1998, Charles admitted he felt more drawn to the “timeless traditions” of the Orthodox Church.

Writing to his friend Dudley Poplak, the late interior designer, the King said: “Personally, the older I get, the more I am drawn to the great, timeless traditions of the Orthodox Church.

“They are the only ones that have not been corrupted by loathsome political correctness.”

The King, who became Supreme Governor of the Church of England in 2022, has always had strong ties to the Greek Orthodox Church.

His father, the late Prince Philip, was baptised a Greek Orthodox, although he later converted to Anglicanism before marrying Queen Elizabeth II.

To mark his paternal heritage, the monarch had a choir perform Psalm 71 in Greek at his Coronation last year.

He has also been seeking spiritual advice from Archimandrite Ephraim, a Greek Orthodox monk, following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

In 2004, it was claimed Charles had adorned a section of his Highgrove home with prized Byzantine icons, thought to originate from the Mount – the Orthodox world’s holiest site.

Greek Orthodox Church worship focuses more on traditional sacraments and sacred scriptures as opposed to preaching and prayer.

This comes as the Church of England has faced accusations of becoming consumed by political correctness over the past 20 years.

The Church was attacked for its diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives and, last year, faced scrutiny for a £100million fund to “address past wrongs of slavery”.

In 2019, Dr Gavin Ashenden, the late Queen’s former chaplain, accused the Church of “swallowing political correctness wholesale” and converted to Catholicism.

The King has long admired all religious faiths, including Islam and Buddhism, and enjoys bringing different faith leaders together.

After he ascended the throne in September 2022, he pledged to protect the multiple faiths of Britain “no less diligently” than Christianity in his role as Head of the Church.

LATEST ROYAL NEWS:

• Lady-in-waiting makes her feelings clear on Kate amid dig at Fergie
• Queen Camilla follows Prince William in striking partnership
• William reveals how he hopes to end homelessness: 'I wasn't able to before'

The King’s letter to Poplak was written on August 24, 1998, and was marked “Private & Confidential”.

Poplak died in 2005 and the letter was one of six royal-related correspondences that went under the hammer at Lay’s Auctions of Penzance, Cornwall. The six letters were sold for more than £1,700.

A spokesman for Lay’s told The Telegraph: “It is an interesting, candid and intriguing letter in which Charles expresses his despair at the prospect of GMO and his interest in the traditions of the Orthodox Church.

“The Royal Family aren’t supposed to make political statements as a rule, certainly in public, but these remarks were made in private correspondence.”