London - The Prince of Wales publicly rejected claims that he would be glad if Queen Elizabeth abdicated so he could become king.
Prince Charles took the unusual step of issuing a strongly worded personal statement denying claims made in a television documentary due to be broadcast on Sunday that he would be pleased if his mother stood down. He also made it clear that despite warmer relations with the media in recent months he was growing tired of endless intrusion into his life.
"The claims . . . are not only deeply offensive but completely wrong. They in no way reflect my views," Prince Charles said in the statement. He called the queen an "outstanding monarch".