Schoolgirl charged with hitting Prince

The 16-year-old struck out from the crowd

The schoolgirl who hit Prince Charles with a flower during his visit to Latvia has been charged with hooliganism.

Prosecutors in the Baltic state said on Thursday that Alina Lebedeva, 16, faces two years in jail if found guilty.

The schoolgirl lurched at the prince with a carnation after he laid flowers at Latvia's Freedom Monument in the Latvian capital Riga in November.

She was protesting about Britain's part in the Afghanistan war.

Plea for leniency

Previously, police had said she might be charged with assaulting a foreign dignitary, an offence carrying a possible 15 years in jail.

The schoolgirl was making a protest

But Prince Charles made a plea for leniency and the lesser charge of hooliganism was announced on Thursday.

A spokeswoman for the prosecutor-general's office said Lebedeva could face up to two years in prison, a fine or community service if found guilty.

No date for the trial had been set as prosecutors had not completed their investigation.

Apology

The incident drew an immediate apology from Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who was with the prince at the time.

Lebedeva and her family have sent letters of apology to him.

And the day after the incident, Alina's English teacher tried to shout out her regrets to him when he visited a cathedral.

Prince Charles was said to be unaffected by the incident.