Prince Charles 'slams Rwanda migrant plan' as High Court rules first flight can go ahead

11 June 2022, 00:45 | Updated: 11 June 2022, 00:47

Prince Charles is believed to have criticised the plan
Prince Charles is believed to have criticised the plan. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Prince Charles has 'slammed the Government's Rwanda migrant plan' after the first scheduled flight to remove asylum seekers from the UK was given the green light by the High Court.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Prince Charles privately condemned the plans, labelling them as "appalling", it is understood.

It comes after the first scheduled flight sending migrants to Rwanda was given the go ahead by the High Court on Friday.

Charles is said to be particularly frustrated as he is due to represent the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, later this month, according to the Times.

Both he and Camilla will become the first members of the Royal Family to visit the country.

A source told the paper they had heard the future king expressing opposition to the policy several times in private and said he was particularly uncomfortable about it amid fears that it would overshadow the summit on June 23.

"He said he was more than disappointed at the policy," the source said.

"He said he thinks the government's whole approach is appalling. It was clear he was not impressed with the government's direction of travel."

A Clarence House spokesman said: "We would not comment on supposed anonymous private conversations with the Prince of Wales, except to restate that he remains politically neutral.

"Matters of policy are decisions for government."

Read more: 'No final decision' on plans to open camp for 1,500 migrants in Yorkshire village

Read more: Ukrainian refugees will not be deported to Rwanda, Boris Johnson vows

Rwanda scheme 'monstrous' and 'disgusting'

On Friday, campaign groups vowed to keep fighting after losing the High Court bid to block the Government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda.

The first stage of action was brought by lawyers on behalf of two migrants alongside the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), which represents more than 80% of Border Force staff, as well as groups Care4Calais and Detention Action who are challenging the policy on behalf of everyone affected.

After the ruling, the PCS union said it "has called for urgent talks with home secretary Priti Patel on her Rwanda removal policy".

Meanwhile, Clare Moseley, founder of Care4Calais, said: "We have been granted permission to appeal on Monday as we are deeply concerned for the welfare of people who may be forcibly deported to Rwanda, a fate that could profoundly harm their mental health and future."

Up to 130 people had been notified they could be removed.

The court heard 31 people were due on the first flight on Tuesday, with the Home Office planning to schedule more this year.

Lawyers for almost 100 migrants had submitted legal challenges asking to stay in the UK with the remaining anticipated to follow suit.

Rwanda refugee deal is 'another death sentence' for migrants

Judge Mr Justice Swift ruled against the claim and said: "I do not consider that the balance of convivence favours the grant of the generic relief."

He added: "There is a material public interest in the Home Secretary being able to pursue her policy."

Shortly after the judgement, Mr Justice Swift granted the claimants permission to appeal, suggesting Court of Appeal judges would hear the case on Monday.

During the proceedings it emerged the Home Office had already cancelled removal directions for three people set to be on the first flight and that a further two will also have them cancelled.

The two remaining migrants who made the claim are still due to be removed on the flight.

If you don't want to go to Rwanda, claim asylum in France, Paul Scully tells LBC

During the hearing, Raza Husain QC, for the claimants, told the court the "procedure is simply unsafe" and called for an evidence-based assessment for the policy, "not an aspirational basis, or hopes".

The barrister later said that the agreement between the two countries, known as a Memorandum of Understanding, was "unenforceable".

"Nothing monitors it, there's no evidence of structural change. The risks are just too high," he added.

Mr Husain also told the court that assertions by the Home Office that UN refugee agency the UNHCR had given the plans the "green light" was a "false claim".

However, Home Office lawyers said legal action should not be allowed to derail the plans and urged the court to reject the application, arguing there was a "strong public interest in permitting these removals to proceed as scheduled" and a "clear public interest in deterring the making of dangerous journeys and the activities of criminal smugglers".

Priti Patel details UK's agreement with Rwanda

Priti Patel welcomed the ruling, saying the Government will "now continue to deliver on progressing our world-leading Migration Partnership".

She said: "People will continue to try and prevent their relocation through legal challenges and last-minute claims, but we will not be deterred in breaking the deadly people smuggling trade and ultimately saving lives.

"Rwanda is a safe country and has previously been recognised for providing a safe haven for refugees - we will continue preparations for the first flight to Rwanda, alongside the range of other measures intended to reduce small boat crossings."

Previously, the Home Office said it expected legal challenges but is "determined to deliver this new partnership" and insisted the policy "fully complies with international and national law" while Downing Street said Boris Johnson remains confident the policy is legal.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "Welcome news from the High Court today. We cannot allow people traffickers to put lives at risk and our world leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Female passenger 'still shivering' after missing Air India flight by 'just 10 minutes' after getting stuck in traffic

Female passenger 'still shivering' after missing Air India flight by 'just 10 minutes' after getting stuck in traffic

Cesar Perez Vargas is of Mexican origin.

Chef awarded £20,000 after boss threatened to have him deported

Primark is looking to move beyond fashion to start opening specific homeware shops

Primark: Fashion giant plans first England homeware shop

Cropped hand of laboratory technician holding blood sample for medical testing

World-first 'Trojan horse' blood cancer drug given green light for NHS

Rory McIlroy struggled during the first round of the US Open

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler struggle in brutal US Open opening round

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was visited by Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, in hospital in Ahmedabad

How sole survivor 'walked out' of Air India crash: 'Miracle of seat 11A' passenger describes how he made it out

.

Couple found dead in tent after camping in UK beauty spot

Maurizio Cattelan: “America” a solid gold toilet installed on the fourth floor of the Guggenheim museum in New York City. United States of America.

Two men involved in £4.75m gold toilet heist to be sentenced

Two doctors and their three children snapped a heartbreaking final selfie onboard the doomed Air India plane

Doctor couple and their children took selfie to celebrate 'new beginnings' moments before disaster struck

Air India plane makes emergency landing in Thailand less than 24h after Gatwick flight horror

Air India plane makes emergency landing in Thailand less than 24h after Gatwick flight horror

Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, the British YouTuber and rapper known as ‘Yung Filly' is seen leaving the Perth Magistrates Court in Perth, Thursday, December 19,

British rapper Yung Filly facing additional charges linked to sexual assault of woman in Australia

The aftermath of the explosion in Tehran, Iran.

Middle East braces for 'all out war' after Israel strikes against Iran and Tehran responds with 'around 100 drones'

Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025.

Israel launches strikes on Iran 'nuclear sites' with explosions heard in Tehran - as US says it's 'not involved'

Exclusive
Sir Sadiq Khan has told LBC News that he's concerned knife crime could rise because the Met Police weren't given more funding in Rachel Reeves' spending review.

Sadiq Khan warns knife crime could rise after Met Police miss out in Rachel Reeves' spending review

Officer Clive Kunder, top right, and Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, bottom right, warned the plane was losing power moments before it crashed.

Air India pilot's chilling 'mayday' call as he warned plane was 'losing power' moments before crash killed 229 on board

Fireworks thrown at Riot Police illluminate the road during this week's protests in Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Police come under attack for fourth night in Northern Ireland as force say 'bigots and racists' behind unrest