Charles calls off skiing holiday over outbreak

The Prince of Wales last night cancelled his skiing holiday because of the epidemic.

He feels it would be 'insensitive' to be seen on the slopes at a time of national crisis.

Charles is particularly concerned about the disease's impact on dozens of tenant farmers on his Duchy of Cornwall estates in the South-West.

'He felt it would be impossible to look his tenants in the eye if he was seen to be jetting off to the mountains for a holiday,' a close aide explained.

It is a significant gesture by the Prince, who last week gave £500,000 to help alleviate hardship in rural communities. His donation was the springboard for the Daily Mail's Farm Aid Appeal.

The Prince has spent a week in the Swiss resort of Klosters virtually every year since the late 1970s. Only once before has he cancelled his much-loved trip to the Alps - exactly ten years ago during the Gulf War.

Charles was due to leave for a week-long holiday with Prince Harry on April 1. Last night it was not certain whether 16-year-old Harry would continue with his trip. Charles had been considering cancelling the holiday for several days.

His decision follows the Queen's intervention in the outbreak with a plea for horseracing to be suspended.

Instead of travelling to Switzerland in 11 days' time, Charles will be in Scotland on the Balmoral estate.

He has been following developments in the foot-and-mouth crisis closely. It is understood he is 'very pleased' at the way businesses and individuals have followed his example and donated cash.

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