Prince's flower attacker off the hook

The red-haired woman struck out from the crowd

The authorities in Latvia have dropped charges of hooliganism against a teenage girl who hit Prince Charles, the son of the British monarch, with a flower during an official visit to Riga last month.

I didn't want to offend you personally - I ask for your forgiveness and hope for your understanding

Alina Lebedeva's letter to Prince Charles

On 8 November, 16-year-old Alina Lebedeva slapped Prince Charles with a carnation as he greeted schoolchildren who were waving the Union Jack.

She said she had acted against the prince because of UK and American policies in Afghanistan, but she later apologised

The incident received world-wide publicity at the time.

"I didn't want to offend you personally," she wrote in the letter, published in the Russian-language daily Chas. "I ask for your forgiveness and hope for your understanding."

Stiff Penalty

In Latvia, hooliganism is a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of two years in jail.

An official of the prosecutor's office said that the teenager was found to be a diligent student and had no previous criminal record.

There is still a possibility that she will be required to do community work or face other correctional measures.

Latvian police had initially requested that Miss Lebedeva be charged with endangering the health and life of a senior official, which carried a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.