Duke of Edinburgh supported nuclear disarmament, letters reveal 

The Duke of Edinburgh supported nuclear disarmament and described the Cold War arms race as "ridiculous", newly declassified correspondence has revealed.

Letters between the Duke, who served in the Navy in the Second World War, and Labour politician Lord Brockway show that he supported the views of his uncle Earl Mountbatten.

Anti-nuclear activist Lord Brockway wrote to the Duke on February 12 1981 enclosing a copy of a speech made by Earl Mountabtten, in which he said the nuclear arms race "has no military purpose".

The Duke responded five days later: "I agree with everything he said. I agree that the arms race is ridiculous."

Lord Brockway had written to the Duke about suggestions in a newspaper report that he thought a "successful defensive nuclear war" was feasible.

The Duke wrote back saying he was "in favour of multilateral disarmament", The Times reported. 

"I added that it was possible that there had not been another major war in the last 30 years because world leaders realised what a horror they would unleash on the world," he said in his letter. 

He added that people in the armed forces still wanted to achieve peace. 

"Service people also have a certain idealism. Why else should they be prepared to lose their lives? It is just because they are so much at risk and because they know the risks, that they are interested in keeping the peace," he said.