Prince Charles is said to have branded son William “naive” for suggesting Buckingham Palace should destroy its priceless ivory collection.
Royal insiders say the pair have had a “frank exchange of words”.
Charles is said to have rebuked Wills, 31, after he reportedly told a zoologist he would “like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed”.
A source said: “William was left in no doubt he should have chosen his words more carefully. Charles thought the remarks were somewhat naive and stupid when you consider the vast collection of ivory held at the Palace.
“He seems to believe there is a vast difference between rightly calling for action against illegal traders and to call for Buckingham Palace to rid itself of an enormously important and historical collection of artifacts.
“It was a typical father and son encounter really, with Charles trying to use his greater experience to try to educate his son.”
Wills is said to have told chimpanzee expert Dr Jane Goodall, 79, he wanted to rid Buckingham Palace of ivory at the London summit in February on the illegal wildlife trade. Charles, 65, and Prince Harry, 29, also attended. Charles said in a film at the time: “We have come together, as father and son, to lend our voices to the growing global effort to combat the illegal wildlife trade.”
Much of William’s campaigning has focused on the African elephant yet Charles recognises the importance of the palace ivory collection, which includes a throne that belonged to Queen Victoria.
The two are said to have traded words before Wills and his family went on a state visit to Australia. But a Palace source denied the disagreement had been heated, adding: “They have not fallen out.”
