LONDON—Liechtenstein may have abolished its army in the latter half of the 19th century, but its prince, Hans-Adams II, is showing that he still knows how to play hardball on the diplomatic stage, announcing this week that he would refuse to lend works, including some by Rubens and Van Dyck, for a Royal Academy show because of an unrelated dispute with British customs.

According to Prince Hans-Adams II — who is also styled the Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg — the HM Revenue and Customs agency has failed to properly handle a request for an export license on a Spanish Renaissance painting that he purchased in London. The Liechtenstein Collection had been scheduled to appear at the Royal Academy from Sept. 25 to Dec. 12, 2010, though its Web site currently states that it “will now not take place.”

Last-minute crises at the Royal Academy are becoming something of a tradition. Two years ago, Russian officials threatened to withhold works from the planned exhibition “From Russia.” Only after special entreaties from British culture secretary James Purnell and foreign secretary David Miliband did the Kremlin relent. No doubt Royal Academy employees, who are rumored to be furious with the customs department, are hoping for a similar dose of diplomatic magic this time.

Read more at the Times.