Charles 'slapped' by war protester

The red-haired woman struck out from the crowd

The Prince of Wales has been slapped round the face with a flower by a war protester during his visit to the Baltic states.

The incident happened in the Latvian capital Riga on Thursday as the prince laid a wreath at the Freedom Monument.

The prince ducked and tried to fend off the woman, who hit out while he was chatting to people in the crowd.

I'm protesting against Latvia joining Nato and I'm against the war in Afghanistan - Britain is the enemy

Alina, war protester

As police arrested her, the woman, called Alina, said: "I'm protesting against Latvia joining Nato and I'm against the war in Afghanistan. Britain is the enemy."

The prince, who minutes earlier laid a wreath to commemorate 10 years of Latvia's independence, continued with his walkabout unflustered.

The woman's parents later travelled the 100 miles from Daugavpils to the capital after being contacted by police.

She was expected to spend at least one night in custody.

Nato candidates

The prince made no mention of the incident during a speech at an official dinner in the presidential palace in Riga, insisting Latvia was on course for Nato membership.

He said: "You are now firm candidates for Nato and European Union membership and who would have believed that when the Soviet tanks rumbled in to try to snuff out Latvia's regained independence back in 1991?

There is now a palpable sense of bustle and vibrancy and, dare I say it, a breath of real freedom in the air

Prince Charles

"Perhaps more importantly, there is now a palpable sense of bustle and vibrancy and, dare I say it, a breath of real freedom in the air."

The prince's five-day tour of the Baltic states marks 10 years since Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia finally shrugged off the Soviets occupiers in 1991 as the USSR dramatically collapsed.

The tour, which began on Monday in sub-zero temperatures in Estonia, will end on Friday.

The prince wanted to meet survivors of the two worst atrocities in Latvia's history.

He wanted to hear the experiences of Latvians who endured the so-called Night of Terror on 14 June, 1941, when the Red Army snatched thousands of citizens from their homes and deported them in railway cars to Siberia.

Just months later the Nazis invaded, fought off the Soviets - then exterminated 90% of the Jewish population.