The Prince of Wales was last night reported to be saddened and upset by a new biography of his father Prince Philip which highlights the difficult relationship between father and son.
The gulf which has grown between the future king and the Duke of Edinburgh is exposed by author Graham Turner, who is understood to have been given unprecedented access to Prince Philip's inner circle in writing the 10,000-word biography.
In an extract from his book revealed for the first time yesterday Turner paints an unflattering picture of Prince Charles, indicating through sources close to Prince Philip that he sees his son as too "precious" and "extravagant" to be an effective monarch.
Prince Philip's collaboration with the biography has led some royal watchers to interpret details of the potentially damaging rift as coded references from the duke himself, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper said Prince Charles was understood to be upset that his father had allowed those close to him to discuss the troublesome relationship between father and son which has existed for years.
He has reportedly shelved plans to write a tribute to mark Prince Philip's 80th birthday next month after learning of the book's contents, it added.
Turner claims Charles never learned how to handle his father's "hectoring" manner and quotes an aide as saying: "He is quite frightened of his father, who dominates the family by being bullying and loud. Charles deals with it by disengaging. That is why he doesn't play a bigger role in family affairs. His father often doesn't let him get a look-in. Charles is far too sensitive."
The pair, who are both outspoken in their own individual ways, have often clashed on issues such as the environment and education. The relationship between father and son was also strained by the future king's affair with Camilla Parker Bowles of which Prince Philip "strongly disapproved," Turner claims.
He claims Prince Philip became increasingly frustrated with his eldest son as his marriage to Diana collapsed, blaming him for undermining all the work he and the Queen had put in to make the monarchy an example to the nation.
"He now regards Charles as precious, extravagant and lacking in the dedication and discipline he will need if he is to make a good king," Turner says in extracts of the biography published in the Daily Telegraph.
Turner adds: "He is at least happy that Charles is now entirely faithful to Camilla, even though that relationship poses serious difficulties for the Queen".
Neither Buckingham Palace nor St James's Palace were available for comment.