The IICSA says there was a serious failure of leadership by the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey (1991-2002) in the church's handling of the case of a bishop who eventually went to prison, an official inquiry has concluded.

It also found that Prince Charles and other members of the establishment were misguided in their expressions of support of Peter Ball as he battled the accusations.

Ball, a former bishop, was jailed in 2015, more than 20 years after allegations were made against him.

The allegations were mainly ignored or downplayed by the church.

He had been cautioned by the police in 1993 and resigned as bishop at that time.

However, he was allowed to continue officiating in the church.

The IICSA's 250-page report says Ball "seemed to relish contact with prominent and influential people".

He "sought to use his relationship with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to further his campaign to return to unrestricted ministry".

The prince and his private secretary spoke about Ball to Carey and arranged for the Duchy of Cornwall to buy a property he could rent after he resigned as a bishop.

The prince had been "misguided" and his actions "could have been interpreted as expressions of support for Peter Ball and, given the Prince of Wales's future role within the Church of England, had the potential to influence the actions of the church", the report says.

Prince Charles says it's a "deep regret" he was "deceived" by Ball in the course of their long friendship, which included sending money to him and Ball speaking at the Duchess of Cornwall's father's funeral.

The report also notes Carey showed compassion to Ball that was not extended to Ball's victims. It says Carey displayed overt support for Ball's innocence despite having no justification.

Furthermore, the report says the church's response to allegations of Ball's abuse and to others in the diocese of Chichester was marked by secrecy, prevarication and avoidance of reporting alleged crimes.

Disclosures of abuse were handled inadequately by the church, and responses failed to display an appropriate level of urgency or appreciation of the seriousness of allegations made.

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• The Daily Mail
• The Guardian
• New York Times
• Image: Daily Star

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The Inquiry, set up in 2014, is investigating whether prominent figures in the establishment attempted to interfere in the criminal justice process. Victims have accused the Church of England of covering up the bishop's crimes which stretched over 30 years.

In a voluntarily-provided written statement to the Inquiry, Charles explained why he kept in touch with Peter Ball for more than two decades after Ball was cautioned for gross indecency in 1993.

Ball resigned after the caution, but told the Prince the caution was a result of someone with a grudge 'persecuting' him.

Charles's statement says he gave Ball 'small gifts and money as I do for many people in need.'

He explained he remained friends with Ball because he did not understand the Police caution relating to Ball's gross indecency was an admission of guilt. He thought Ball had only been caught in an "indiscretion."

His statement says he was in contact with Ball for more than 20 years until he was convicted in 2015 for further sexual abuse offences.

The statement, which will be formally published this week, says Charles has 'deep personal regret' that Ball, who was finally jailed for 32 months in October 2015, had deceived him.

Ball, who is now 86, was released in February last year after serving half his jail sentence.

He often spoke of his links with the Royal family and was invited to give communion at the Prince's home in Highgrove.

He also spoke at the funeral for the Duchess of Cornwall's father Bruce Shand in 2006 and lived on Duchy of Cornwall land from 1997 to 2011.

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• Time
• Daily Mail
• Independent
• The Guardian
• Image: The Sun