Prince Charles and Camilla are touring the United States next month, because the Canadian government discouraged the newlyweds from making their first North American stopover here.

Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting Thursday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said the royal couple was warned the autumn trip might coincide with a federal vote.

According to the prime minister, consultations on the local political landscape are routine when planning a royal visit, so as to avoid any suggestions of interference in the democratic process.

With Justice John Gomery's first report on the sponsorship inquiry due next Tuesday, Martin said the royals were told their visit might coincide with a snap election.

"We did not know at the time and we still don't know if there is going to be a fall election -- although there won't be one called by us," Martin told reporters.

"We gave them what was the political advice given what the political landscape was."

But Opposition MPs say cancelling this royal trip is particularly bizarre given that the Queen's visit to Saskatchewan and Alberta went ahead last Spring -- despite the even greater prospect of a call to the polls back then.

Conservative MP Jason Kenney says it's tantamount to a smack in the face.

"I just think it is total disrespect that the prime minister is showing to a member of the Royal Family, a family that has a long history of service to Canada and Canadians," he said.

And, as Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri admits, there is little chance the government will fall in the coming days.

"I've been very clear with the opposition leaders that I would not be looking to schedule confidence votes during this period of time," Valeri said. "In the interim, that we've got business to do and work to do in Parliament, and I'm looking to do exactly that."

Failing to clarify the reasons why Charles and Camilla were discouraged from coming to Canada, the Governor-General's Office says there are no hard and fast rules on scheduling royal visits.

But that's of no concern south of the border, where the royal visit is seen as a test of the couple's popularity in a country where Princess Diana remains an unusually popular royal celebrity -- eight years after death.

During their first American tour as a married couple, the prince and his wife will visit the former site of the World Trade Center, dine with U.S. President George Bush at the White House, meet with Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the United Nations and travel to San Francisco where Charles will speak about sustainability and global warming.

The last time Charles officially toured America, in 1985, Princess Diana danced with John Travolta at a White House dinner.

Prepared with a report from CTV Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife