Charles forced to pull out of Brick Lane film gala

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had been due to see the film as this year's Royal Film Performance.

But the royal couple will not now be attending after Clarence House indicated the prince did not wish to offend Bangladeshi groups who have opposed the filming of Monica Ali's bestselling novel.

The critically acclaimed book tells the story of a Bangladeshi woman called Nazneen who moves to London to wed a man twice her age in an arranged marriage. But it has been condemned for portraying the Bangladeshi community as ignorant and sexist.

The Prince of Wales' spokesman has confirmed the sensitive subject matter, coupled with the royal couple's busy schedule, means they will not attend - only the second time in the charity event's 61-year history.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "Obviously there has been quite a lot of controversy about that film which everyone was aware of. The appropriateness of the film chosen is important but so is the date."

Shooting on location around Brick Lane in the East End was abandoned by production company Ruby Films after massive objections from local people.

Community leaders were against the book and were concerned that the film would degrade the area.

Leading campaigner and businessman Abdus Salique said at the time: "Stopping them filming here is nothing personal against Monica Ali. But she says horrible things about Bangladeshi women, calling them uneducated, illiterate - she insults my wife, my mother, my daughter.

"I'm also thinking as a father. If my sons, our youngsters, see this film, they'll say 'ugh' and never be fond of us again."

The first reviews of the film, which received its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, have been relatively positive.

The Standard's Nick Roddick said it was a "loving and frequently moving portrait of a family with a right to their own personal history without having to 'represent' an entire community or a moment in British social history". The Hollywood Reporter called it "shrewd and poignant".

Brick Lane will now receive its premiere at the London Film Festival on 26 October.