PM to tell Prince Charles he is 'proud' of migrant plan – which HRH called 'appalling'

Boris Johnson is prepared to declare he is “proud” of his Rwanda migrants policy during talks with the Prince of Wales on Friday, The Telegraph understands.

The pair will meet for the first time since it emerged the Prince privately described the planned deportation of asylum seekers to the country as “appalling”.

The meeting will take place in Rwanda itself, which is hosting this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and will see both men attend.

Clarence House described the gathering scheduled for Friday morning as Mr Johnson “popping in for a cup of tea” with the Prince.

Sources close to the pair played down expectations that the migrant policy would be discussed during the meeting, but it was not ruled out.

Mr Johnson was on Wednesday night boarding a flight to Kigali when he said he has "no evidence" for the claim that Prince Charles called the policy "appalling".

Asked whether he would tell the Prince he was wrong to attack the policy, the Prime Minister told reporters: "I think that the policy is a sensible measure and it's a plan to deal with the grotesque abuse of innocent people crossing the Channel. It hasn't been ruled unlawful by any court."

Mr Johnson added that he is "very much looking forward" to seeing Prince Charles. 

It is understood that the Prime Minister, who has been robust in public in his dismissal of criticism of the approach, would argue the policy's merits if the topic came up.

PM 'very confident in his argument'

An ally of Mr Johnson said: “Our economic and migration partnership with Rwanda is something we’re proud to have struck.

“We’re encouraged by the UK courts endorsing that policy. The Prime Minister is very confident in his argument.”

The Government has struck a deal to send some migrants who arrive in the UK illegally to Rwanda while their asylum applications are processed.

Mr Johnson and his ministers argue the policy deters those seeking refuge in the UK from risking their lives by crossing the English Channel and undercuts criminal smuggling gangs.

The Prince was reported earlier this month to have called the policy “appalling” - a claim that has never been denied by Clarence House.

The first flight carrying migrants to Rwanda was due to take off last week but was blocked after a last minute ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, on Wednesday introduced a new "British Bill of Rights" which he argued would give the UK powers to overrule European judges on migrant policy.

The last time Mr Johnson and the Prince met face-to-face was shortly before the Platinum Jubilee Party at the Palace, when they held a brief meeting before taking their seats in the royal box.

Clarence House sources insist that the Prince enjoys a good relationship with both the Prime Minister and Priti Patel, the Home Secretary overseeing the migrant policy.

'Quite awkward' for the Prince

A source previously admitted that it was “quite awkward” to be going to Rwanda for the Commonwealth summit when there was so much debate about the migrant crisis.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will see representatives from all 53 nations of the grouping gather, with Mr Johnson due to arrive on Thursday.

Togo and Gabon are set to join the Commonwealth this week, becoming the latest countries to join despite having no historic ties to Britain.

It is the first time that new nations have joined in over a decade, and the first time since 1995 that two have joined at once.

But a row over allegations that Baroness Scotland suppressed a report that criticises her administration as toxic flared up on Wednesday, generating negative headlines on the eve of the summit.