Princess Anne blames travel curbs for decision to skip Olympics

THE Princess Royal will not attend the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics because of “travel restriction difficulties”, it has been announced.

The Princess’s decision was disclosed amid an escalating row over China’s record on human rights. The head of the WHO and the UN have been criticised fo their decision to attend the Games, while the Prime Minister has said there will “effectively be a diplomatic boycott” by Britain of the event.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the Princess was “disappointed” that she would not be able to attend the games or the meetings of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the Chinese capital.

She has a long association with the event both as an equestrian competitor in the 1976 Montreal Games, and now as president of the British Olympic Association and a member of the IOC.

Last month the princess met IOC representatives to discuss her role at the Games. But a Palace spokesman said yesterday: “The Princess Royal is disappointed she will not be able to attend the IOC meetings in Beijing ahead of the winter Olympics this year, nor the Games themselves.

“This is due to the flight and Covid travel restriction difficulties in getting to and from the Games without losing too much of her busy work schedule at home. Her Royal Highness sends her best wishes for the Games to the British athletes and supporting officials.”

Last month Boris Johnson said the Government had “no hesitation” in raising concerns over human rights abuses with China. He told the Commons: “There will be effectively a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. No ministers are expected to attend and no officials.”

The US and Australia have announced diplomatic boycotts over Beijing’s record on human rights, particularly the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. China has denied any wrongdoing in Xinjiang.