Environmentalists involved in Prince William 's China tour warned British diplomats not to let him visit a park where elephants perform circus tricks two months ago , The Mail on Sunday has learnt . But the advice – given to officials at Britain 's Chongqing consulate as the Prince 's itinerary was drafted in January – was brushed aside , one of the ecologists said yesterday . The Prince 's tour – on which he was accompanied by four press officers – ended in a PR disaster when he visited a rescue centre at Wild Elephant Valley , only a few yards from an arena where elephants play football , dance and do tricks for tourists . In the spotlight : Prince William surrounded by his support team in China during his royal tour . The degrading performances at Wild Elephant Valley that happen just yards from the rescue centre visited by Prince William . Last month The Mail on Sunday revealed the Prince would be visiting the park and informed the Palace of the cruel conditions , but Royal sources claimed Prince William wanted to visit regardless so he could 'shine a spotlight ' on the issue . However when the Prince was at the park , and was asked by Sky TV if he knew elephants were performing nearby , he seemed wrong-footed , hurrying away in silence as journalist Mark Stone called after him : 'The Chinese are using elephants to play football , your Royal Highness . ' Ecologist Alice Hughes , an associate professor based at Xishuangbanna Botanical Gardens , said : 'When the British consulate told us 'We might take Prince William to Wild Elephant Valley ' , we all said unanimously , 'Do n't take him there . It 's basically a circus . ' We warned the British consulate off but I think some of them are very , very naïve . ' She added : ' I do n't believe our concerns were filtered through to any higher levels . If Prince William had known what was going on there , I do n't think there is any possibility he would have gone . I think he must have been assured they really were doing conservation work . ' Both Buckingham Palace and the Foreign Office declined to say if the concerns had been passed on to the Prince . But yesterday one of his aides insisted : 'Prince William absolutely knew what was happening . ' Another aide said : 'Our view is , this was n't embarrassing . It was an essential thing for the Duke to do and one of the key reasons he went is to encourage conservation efforts and that comes in complex packaging . ' Both Buckingham Palace and the Foreign Office declined to say if the concerns had been passed on to the Prince , pictured during his visit . A Kensington Palace spokesman added : 'It goes without saying the Duke does not condone the performances , but he recognises the incredible work Wild Elephant Valley has done to protect the elephant population . ' But Louise Rogerson , from the Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival Foundation , said : 'Tourists will flock to Wild Elephant Valley now . Prince William is indirectly supporting cruelty to elephants forced to take part in these circus performances . '
Ecologists warned British diplomats not to let Duke visit park last month . Warned it was only yards from arena where elephants do tricks for tourists . MoS months ago also warned palace of cruel conditions near rescue centre . Four press officers accompanied the Duke of Cambridge on China tour .