(AFP) – 2 days ago

LONDON — Prince Charles and Foreign Secretary David Miliband will not be able to represent Britain at the funeral of Polish president Lech Kaczynski due to the volcanic ash cloud, they said Saturday.

The heir to the throne and Miliband were due to attend Sunday's state funeral in Krakow, southern Poland.

Several other world leaders have said they will not be able to attend because of the air traffic disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano, while some from mainland Europe are making their way by land.

Charles, who was due to represent Queen Elizabeth II at the funeral, stayed as Kaczynski's guest during a trip to Poland last month with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

"The Prince of Wales was very saddened and disappointed that he was unable to make the trip and his thoughts and prayers are with the Polish people," said a spokesman for his Clarence House office.

Meanwhile Miliband -- who has Polish heritage -- said in a statement he deeply regretted being unable to attend.

"The whole of the United Kingdom was deeply moved at the tragic deaths of president Kaczynski, first lady Madame Kaczynska and over 90 others in the plane crash in Smolensk," he said.

"Because of the ongoing air travel disruption, it has become impossible for us to make the journey to the funeral, which we both deeply regret.

"I have passed this message to the Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski.

"We will be thinking tomorrow both of the families of all those who lost their lives in the plane crash and of the people of Poland.

"Britain and Poland have stood together many times in the past and we stand together in solidarity and sorrow now."

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