Prince Charles Will Not Attend China's Games

BEIJING — Charles, the Prince of Wales, has snubbed the Chinese government by refusing to attend the Olympic games in Beijing this summer.

The prince made his decision known to campaigners for a free Tibet, who had been calling on him to show solidarity with those who believe the games risk obscuring China's human-rights record.

He gave no reason for his decision and did not indicate whether he had received a formal invitation. However, he has recently been wooed by the Chinese, particularly their new ambassador in London, who had made it her mission to encourage him to go.

"As you know, his Royal Highness has long taken a close interest in Tibet and indeed has been pleased to meet His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, on several occasions," a letter to the Free Tibet Campaign from the prince's deputy private secretary, Clive Alderton, said.

"You asked if the Prince of Wales would be attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. His Royal Highness will not be attending the ceremony." Separately, the prince's staff have made clear that he will not be attending the games at any stage.

Although the letter avoids backing the group's position on the games, the Free Tibet Campaign welcomed the decision. It intends to use to launch a campaign to persuade other prominent figures not to attend in protest at Chinese policies.

The Prince of Wales is an admirer of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetans' spiritual leader who has been in exile since an uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

He has a reputation as China's leading critic in the British establishment, which encouraged Fu Ying to single him out for attention when she took up her appointment as ambassador to Britain last year.

This led to a special "Chinese day" last autumn, when he toured Chinatown and met visiting Chinese businessmen and women.