A British newspaper reports that Prince Charles has criticized the government’s plan to start deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda, calling it “disgusting”. Citing anonymous sources, the Times reported late Friday that the British heir to the throne was privately opposed to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s policy of sending people to the East African country. A court ruling paved the way for the first flight under the controversial deal to depart on Tuesday with more than 30 people on board. Britain plans to send some migrants arriving in the UK as smugglers or in small boats to Rwanda, where their asylum applications will be processed. If they succeed, they will remain in the African country. Human rights groups have called the idea inapplicable and inhumane. The prince’s office neither confirmed nor denied the report. “We will not comment on alleged anonymous private conversations with the Prince of Wales, only to reiterate that he remains politically neutral,” Clarence House said in a statement. “Policy issues are government decisions.” The new policy threatens to overshadow the forthcoming visit of Charles and his wife Camilla to Rwanda later this month to attend a meeting of Commonwealth leaders. The Times reported that a source had heard Charles express his opposition to the policy several times in person and that he was “more than disappointed” by it. Traditionally, British kings do not get involved in politics. As head of state, Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, must remain strictly politically neutral and not vote or run in elections, according to the royal family’s official website. However, the 73-year-old prince, who is the first in line for the throne, has been a staunch supporter of various causes, such as the campaign against climate change and plastic pollution in the oceans. He has also been accused of meddling in politics, talking about property developments and opposing other issues.
