Prince Charles protester faces jail

Prince Charles, pictured earlier this year, was unhurt in the incident

RIGA, Latvia -- A Latvian schoolgirl who slapped Britain's Prince Charles with a bunch of flowers faces up to 15 years in prison after being charged with endangering the life of a foreign dignitary, police said.

The UK's Press Association reported that Alina Lebedeva, 16, would remain in custody in the Latvian capital, Riga, until Sunday after her assault on the heir to the British throne on Thursday.

She said in Latvian as she was led away by police after the incident: "I'm protesting against Latvia joining Nato and I'm against the war in Afghanistan. Britain is the enemy."

The three governments in the Baltic region have backed the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan.

A spokeswoman for the security police told PA: "She has been charged under Article 87 with endangering the health and life of a foreign dignitary.

"The investigation is ongoing into the circumstances of the incident."

She said police would be investigating whether anyone had "pushed" Alina into carrying out the attack. It would then be decided whether to bring the case to court.

'Ill mind'

The Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth's eldest son, was unhurt in the incident that happened while he was talking to members of the public after laying a wreath at the Freedom Monument in central Riga.

Palace officials said at the time he had been unaffected by the assault.

President Vike-Freiberga later apologised for the incident and suggested the protester had been mentally ill.

She was quoted by PA as saying: "The woman was clearly of ill mind. Of course I am sorry it happened but I'm sure the prince understands she was not very well."

Prince Charles arrived Thursday in Latvia from Lithuania during a tour to commemorate Britain's recognition of the Baltic independence from Moscow a decade ago. He started the week in Estonia, and leaves the region on Friday.