Prince Charles’ trusted former royal aide declines to answer questions amid donor allegations
ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship on the allegations facing Michael Fawcett.
A former top aide to the Prince of Wales has declined to answer questions about allegations he secured an honour for a Saudi donor.
Michael Fawcett, a former assistant valet to Charles, has temporarily stepped down from his role as chief executive of The Prince’s Foundation while an investigation into allegations about his conduct takes place.
The Sunday Times claimed Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak, who is listed as a supporter on The Prince’s Foundation website, donated large sums to restoration projects of particular interest to Charles.
When asked by reporters on Monday morning whether he "secured honours for cash" or whether he "had any comments on the revelations in the newspaper over the last couple of days", he remained silent.
ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship reports on the relationship between Prince Charles and Michael Fawcett
The paper added that Mr Mahfouz denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Fawcett is alleged to have coordinated support for an honour for Mr Mahfouz, according to newspaper reports.
Mr Fawcett, who in 2003 was cleared of financial misconduct allegations over the selling of royal gifts, was appointed chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation in 2018 following a reorganisation of Charles’ charities.
Douglas Connell, chair of The Prince’s Foundation, confirmed an investigation was ongoing.
He said: “Earlier today, Michael Fawcett offered to step down temporarily from active duties as chief executive of The Prince’s Foundation while the trustees’ investigation is ongoing.
“The Prince’s Foundation has accepted this offer. Michael fully supports the ongoing investigation and has confirmed that he will assist the investigation in every way.”
It is understood that Emily Cherrington, chief operating officer, will take over in the interim, and that the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has been informed as The Prince’s Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland.
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A spokeswoman for The Prince’s Foundation said: “The Prince’s Foundation takes very seriously the allegations that have recently been brought to its attention and the matter is currently under investigation.
“We are incredibly proud of The Prince’s Foundation’s charitable work and the positive impact it has on our beneficiaries throughout the UK and across the world.
“Our education and training programmes, in particular, benefit more than 15,000 people every year, and provide our students with the skills and confidence needed to gain employment or start their own businesses.”
Mr Fawcett began his royal service in 1981 as a footman to the Queen, rising through the ranks to sergeant footman and then Charles’ assistant valet, setting out his bespoke suits and shirts every morning at Kensington Palace.
He was accused of selling unwanted royal gifts and pocketing a percentage of the proceeds when Charles’ personal assistant, but was cleared by an internal inquiry of any financial misconduct.
The inquiry, headed by Charles’ then private secretary Sir Michael Peat, found Mr Fawcett did “infringe internal rules relating to gifts from suppliers” but could not be severely criticised because the rules were not enforced and he made no secret of such gifts.
But the report painted a picture of Mr Fawcett as an alleged bully who accepted valuable gifts from outsiders.
The royal aide resigned following the report’s publication, but continued to have the prince’s patronage as a freelance fixer and party planner, and picked up an undisclosed cash severance package as well as an agreement to work as the Prince’s events manager.