CHARLES DECLINES THRONE

06/11/1999 at 12:00 AM EDT

Prince Charles ended a three-day tour of Greece on Tuesday with a visit to the ancient palace of Knossos -- but he refused an offer to sit on the throne, reports the British Press Association. As he was being shown the 5,000-year-old palace complex, Charles was asked by his guide if he would like to try the throne. Alexandra Karetsou, director of the Central Crete Archaeological Service revealed: "I said to him, 'You are the only man here who can sit in the throne room,' but he said, 'No.'"

The Prince was shown the restoration work carried out by Sir Arthur Evans at Knossos in the early part of this century and the continuing preservation work being carried out by archeologists. The site receives around 1.3 million visitors each year and is a magnificent example of the original architectural spirit of the Minoans, the first advanced civilization to emerge in Europe.