Charles feels the flower power

Prince Charles was attacked by a woman today over Britain's involvement in the bombing of Afghanistan. He was visibly shaken as she slapped him round the face with a carnation during a walkabout.

As she tried to hit the Prince a second time, he moved back and raised his arm in selfdefence. The woman in her early twenties, named only as Alina, was grabbed by security guards seconds after pushing through the crowd of well-wishers to swipe him across the face.

The incident happened in the Latvian capital, Riga, during the Prince's five-day tour of the Baltic states. Immediately the Prince's Latvian police bodyguards closed ranks around him and ended the walkabout.

As Alina was led away she said: "Britain is the enemy. I did it because of Britain's involvement in the bombing of Afghanistan and because I don't want Latvia to join Nato. I think it is wrong and the bombing should be stopped. It cannot be justified."

Asked why she attacked Charles, she said: "They are my reasons. I am not a member of a political party."

The attack happened moments after Charles and Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga placed wreaths at the Freedom Monument in the centre of Riga.

Later the president said: "I am saddened by the incident but I think the woman involved was of ill mind. I am sure the Prince knows that too. I'm sure it will not upset the rest of the visit by the Prince, who we are very happy to welcome to our country."

Immediately after the attack Charles walked through the streets accompanied by his two Scotland Yard protection officers.

Royal sources said Charles was "relaxed" about the attack. He relaxed in a traditional British way - visiting the British Embassy in Riga for a glass of Scotch.

A St James's Palace spokesman said: "It was a minor incident that was over in seconds and the Prince of Wales continued with the visit unaffected."

The woman was led away by presidential guard Gunta Vilnis, who said: "I don't know why she did it. I took her to the police who have taken her away for questioning."

Charles has been attacked before while on foreign assignments. He once famously said to reporters during a trip to Spain that there's nothing you can do if your name is on the bullet.

In 1994 he was involved in a terrifying incident in front of a 20,000-strong crowd during a tour of Australia.

A student with a personality disorder fired shots from a starting pistol before lunging at him.

Charles, who has previously told close friends of his fears of being a target of the assassin's bullet, remained calm as pandemonium unfolded.

His bodyguard Superintendent Colin Trimming uncoiled his 6ft 2in frame and with one giant lunge shoulder-charged Charles out of danger and stood in front of him as a human shield.

The gunman, 23-year-old David Kang, crashed into a lectern and was left sprawled on the floor. Dignitaries piled on top of Kang and overpowered him while police dragged him away.

Charles even joked about the incident. Turning to an aide, he recounted an anecdote about how he was charged by a bull elephant while in Kenya. He said the African encounter was far more frightening.