British royalty took another hit, this time aimed at Prince Charles. The son of Queen Elizabeth II is being investigated by police on corruption charges: he offered the title in exchange for money.
Scotland Yard said in a statement that it received a letter in September 2021 accusing Prince Charles of bribery. “This relates (the letter) to press reports about an alleged offer of assistance to guarantee honor and citizenship for Saudi nationals.”
London’s security services contacted “suspicious individuals” and the prince’s foundation for “relevant information” and documents to begin building the case.
Prince Andrew could stop being the Duke of York
Prince Charles bribes
It all started in September last year, when the British newspapers Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday revealed that the former personal assistant to the heir to the throne, Michael Fawcett, was allegedly used his influence to help Saudi businessman Mahfuz Marei Mubarak Bin Mahfuza “philanthropist” donor to a charity linked to the British monarchy, for an award.
The Saudi businessman was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Empire by Prince Charles in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 2016.
The distinction is important to support the 51-year-old man’s application for British citizenship, who will donate a large sum of money for a restoration project to the prince’s foundation. The Saudis have denied media claims.
Assistant Resignation
Michael Fawcett has worked with the royal family for more than 40 years. England began as a servant to the queen in 1981 and rose to become Carlos de Gales’ personal assistant.
In 2003, he was singled out for charges of “financial misconduct” in connection with the sale of gifts to royalties. The Prince defended him, but resigned from his position and became director of the Prince’s Foundation.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Fawcett wrote in a letter in 2017 to assistant Mahfouz:
I am happy to confirm, with confidence, that we are willing and happy to support and contribute to citizenship applications. Furthermore, I can emphasize that we are willing to submit an application to increase the honor of Your Excellency from Honorary CBE to KBE in accordance with the Honorary Council of His Majesty. Both requests will be made in response to The Trust’s recent and anticipated support, and in light of its ongoing engagement in the UK generally.
In response, former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker wrote to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick urging a police investigation.
In November 2021, Fawcett stepped down from his position as CEO of The Prince’s Foundation.
The president of the foundation also resigned
Lady Di widower foundation president Douglas Connell also resigned last year, denying any wrongdoing. This was after the press revealed that they had received hundreds of thousands of euros from a Russian banker named Dmitri Leous.
The independent body that regulates charities in Scotland launched an investigation at the time. Prince Charles reportedly wrote a letter thanking Leus for donating 500,000 pounds ($692,000) in 2021. (I)
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