Buckingham Palace rejects request to return remains of 'stolen' Ethiopian prince

Buckingham Palace say they are unable to return the remains of an Ethiopian prince buried at Windsor Castle.

Prince Alemayehu died in the 19th Century after he was taken to the UK aged seven.

He arrived in Britain as an orphan when his mother died on the journey.

Queen Victoria then arranged for him to be education before his death at the age on 18.

Buried in Berkshire, his family wants his remains to be sent back to Ethiopia.

But Palace officials say that's not possible with the logistics of exhuming the remains too complex.

"We want his remains back as a family and as Ethiopians because that is not the country he was born in," one of the royal descendants Fasil Minas told the BBC.

Queen Victoria arranged for the boy to be educated in the UK (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Shocked by his death, she then took charge of his burial in Windsor (Getty Images)

He added it "was not right" for him to be buried in England.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said removing the remains could affect others buried at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

"It is very unlikely that it would be possible to exhume the remains without disturbing the resting place of a substantial number of others in the vicinity," the palace said a statement.

They also added that they had "a responsibility to preserve the dignity of the departed".

But his remains won't be returned from Windsor Castle (Getty Images)

The prince died in 1879 and his illness become the subject of articles.

Queen Victoria wrote in her diary of her sadness at his death before she arranged for his burial at Windsor Castle.

"Very grieved and shocked to hear by telegram, that good Alemayehu had passed away this morning. It is too sad! All alone, in a strange country, without a single person or relative, belonging to him," she penned.

"His was no happy life, full of difficulties of every kind, and was so sensitive, thinking that people stared at him on account of his colour.

"Everyone is very sorry."

It isn't the first time calls have been made to return the remains after then-President Girma Wolde-Giorgis sent a formal request to Queen Elizabeth II back in 2007.

"We want him back. We don't want him to remain in a foreign country," it was asked.

"He had a sad life. When I think of him I cry. If they agree to return his remains I would think of it as if he came home alive."