UK government to publish Prince Charles secret letters

LONDON (AP) -- Prince Charles' secret letters to government officials are set to be released to the public after a long court battle.

The 27 contested letters have been called the "black spider" memos because of Charles' handwriting style.

The memos to be published Wednesday have long been sought via a Freedom of Information Act request by Guardian newspaper journalist Rob Evans.

Britain's Supreme Court in March supported a lower court ruling that the letters be published.

The government has sought for years to keep the letters out of the public domain for fear that publishing them might damage public perceptions of Charles' neutrality.

As heir to the throne, Charles is expected to stay out of political matters. He has in the past expressed views about architecture, genetically modified food and climate change.

(© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)