The Tibetan spiritual leader flew to Britain on Tuesday at the start of an 11-day visit during which he will meet Prince Charles and Gordon Brown.

Engagements on Tuesday eschewed controversy, but the Dalai Lama arrived amid accusations that his political role was being sidelined by a decision not to stage a Downing Street reception. Instead he is due to meet the prime minister in Lambeth Palace on Friday, with the Archbishop of Canterbury in attendance for part of the meeting.

The move has been criticised as an attempt to placate Beijing by meeting the Dalai Lama in a spiritual role at the expense of his political position as leader of the Tibetan government in exile.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Treating the Dalai Lama as only a religious leader simply ignores the reality. There is no reason why he should not be received at Number 10. Many people will conclude that the Prime Minister is trying to have it both ways, to see him and not offend the Chinese government."

But a Downing Street spokesman countered that the Prime Minister would be holding a separate one-on-one meeting with the Dalai Lama after the inter-faith meeting with Dr Rowan Williams.

During the private session, Mr Brown will bring up the subject of Tibetan human rights in China, it is believed.

On Tuesday the 72-year-old Dalai Lama received a warm welcome as he accepted a honorary doctorate at London Metropolitan University.

During a half hour address, the Dalai Lama made a critical remark over China's "one-sided" education system in Tibet, but stayed largely away from politics.

This is likely to change as the Buddhist leader visits Britain's seat of government in Westminster. He will address members of both Houses in Parliament ahead of a meeting with the media. The day will also see him meet Conservative leader David Cameron.