An interesting story, but not because Prince Charles is boycotting. Rather, I doubt very much that he was likely to go to the Games at all, so the boycott is entirely a publicity  stunt. All perfectly valid, but it begs the question as to what social significance the term boycott has. Surely, one has to have something at stake for the boycott to be some kind of principled sacrifice.

Free Tibet Campaign urging public figures to stay away

Owen Bowcott
Monday January 28, 2008
Guardian Unlimited

Prince Charles won’t be going to Beijing in August. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The Prince of Wales’ decision not to attend the Beijing Olympics is being used as the launchpad for an international campaign to persuade public figures to boycott the games..