By DPA
London : Britain’s Prince Charles is to meet the Dalai Lama during the exiled Tibetan leader’s scheduled visit to London in May, the prince’s spokesman said Thursday.
Confirmation of the planned meeting came a day after Prime Minister Gordon Brown told parliament that he, too, would receive the Dalai Lama.
Brown’s decision was criticised by the Chinese government.
For Prince Charles, it will be his second meeting with Tibet’s spiritual leader in recent years. The prince, known to be an admirer of the Dalai Lama, last met him in 2004 at a reception in London.
As far back as 1991, the two men discussed the plight of Tibet and relations with China at an environment conference in London.
After the 2004 meeting, Prince Charles’s spokesman said: “The Prince’s support for the Dalai Lama is well known. For many years, he has been concerned about the situation of the people of Tibet and has been impressed by the Dalai Lama’s efforts to seek a peaceful resolution.”
Prince Charles has let it be known that he would not be attending this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing if he was invited.
Brown, who visited China with a high-power business delegation last month, has accepted an invitation to the August games.