Carcassonne Central

Maybe this is a simple question but can't seem to find and Answer.
When a player places a tile with princess they remove a knight and cannot Deploy or move any other follower. However if a player only has their knight within the City and chooses not to remove it or alternatively there are no knights in the city can the player deploy a follower as they would normally (in a sense the princess is non existent in this instance)?

Yes, they can. It is up to the individual player who draws a Princess tile to use the ability of the Princess or not. Therefore, a follower can be removed from the city that the Princess is placed in or a follower can be deployed to the city (as long as there is no other follower present), deployed on a farm or road (etc.), move the fairy, place a Tower piece or any other legal 'move-the-wood action.

It is not completely clear in the rules (CAR), but this sentence gives it away: "If a knight is removed from the city, the player may not deploy or move any other figure (follower, builder, pig or fairy)." Which in essence says that if you do not remove a Knight you are free to move-the-wood as usual.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Joff,
Speedy reply.
Certainly does clarify.  I also found another document Carcassonne play reference sheet that agrees with your reading of Car.
Maddie and I were playing last night (3.5 hrs)when this one raised its head. We restricted tonight's game to the castle.