The Prince of Wales would be “happy” to help a Metropolitan Police investigation into an alleged cash-for-honours scandal launched after Charles and a former close confidant were reported to officers over the claims.
Anti-monarchy group Republic made a formal complaint to Met detectives about the heir to the throne and Michael Fawcett last September, following a series of newspaper articles alleging a donor to The Prince’s Foundation was offered help securing a knighthood.
At the time Clarence House said the prince had “no knowledge” of the alleged cash-for-honours scandal.
Mr Fawcett, who has since resigned as chief executive of The Prince’s Foundation in the wake of the alleged scandal, had been accused of promising to help the Saudi billionaire donor achieve British citizenship and the honour.
A source said about the police investigation: “His Royal Highness is happy to help if asked. He has not been.”
Michael Fawcett
Sean Dempsey
The royal family has already seen its reputation bruised by the Duke of York’s sexual assault civil case, which was settled out of court this week, and now there is the prospect of further damage with the launch of the Met Police probe.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central and has called on Andrew to give up his title to show “respect” for people living in the city, suggested in the wake of the alleged cash-for-honours scandal and the duke’s civil sex case the royal family does not have a “right to reign”.
Ms Maskell was asked on Channel 4 News if recent events opened up a wider debate about the future of the monarchy and replied: “I think it absolutely does. That’s why we have got to look at the situation of power and privilege in our society and the role that it can play.
“And when we seen that it can be used for exploitation, you know, whether it is the questions over charitable funds or whether it’s the question over personal conduct, then of course there has got to be (questions).
“Nobody has a right to reign and I think we’ve got to seriously ask those questions now.”
Pressure group Republic contacted Scotland Yard and reported both the future king and Mr Fawcett, Charles’s former valet, on suspicion of breaching the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.
Ex-Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker also wrote to the Met asking the force to launch a criminal probe into the allegations made against the former royal confidant.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said: “I think we want to know that Prince Charles himself will be investigated along with Michael Fawcett.
“So we hope the investigation will be carried out without fear or favour and will be as thorough as it needs to be.”
Last autumn, the Mail on Sunday published a letter from 2017 in which Mr Fawcett reportedly wrote that he was willing to make an application to change businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz’s honorary CBE to a knighthood, and support his application for citizenship.
The letter, written on headed notepaper in Mr Fawcett’s then capacity as chief executive of the Dumfries House Trust, said the applications would be made in response to “the most recent and anticipated support” of the trust.
Mr Mahfouz, who is listed as a supporter on The Prince’s Foundation website, is reported to have donated large sums to restoration projects of particular interest to Charles.
He is said to deny any wrongdoing himself.
The Prince’s Foundation commissioned an independent investigation into the allegations, which found evidence of Mr Fawcett’s “communications and co-ordination” with “so-called ‘fixers’ regarding honorary nominations for a donor between 2014-18”.
Scotland Yard said in a statement: “The Metropolitan Police Service has launched an investigation into allegations of offences under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.
“The decision follows an assessment of a September 2021 letter. This related to media reporting alleging offers of help were made to secure honours and citizenship for a Saudi national.
“The Special Enquiry Team has conducted the assessment process which has included contacting those believed to hold relevant information.
The Prince of Wales with Michael Fawcett in 2019
Andrew Milligan
“Officers liaised with The Prince’s Foundation about the findings of an independent investigation into fundraising practices. The foundation provided a number of relevant documents.
“These documents were reviewed alongside existing information. The assessment determined an investigation will commence.
“There have been no arrests or interviews under caution.”
Charles is president of the foundation but not involved with its governance, with the charity’s trustees overseeing its day-to-day activities.
Mark Stephens, an international reputation lawyer from the law firm Howard Kennedy, said he thinks it highly unlikely that the prince will be interviewed by police about the allegations.
He said: “Charles has an entire staff who runs his office and he’s only told about the intimate dealings when he needs to know about them, and he clearly wouldn’t have needed to know about this.”
Clarence House reiterated its previous statement: “The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities.”