Prince Charles spotted in public for the first time since Covid diagnosis and police investigation into his charity

The royal has been spotted for the first time since his Covid diagnosis and police launched an investigation into the cash-for-honours scandal involving a Saudi billionaire.

Prince Charles has been spotted for the first time since British police launched an investigation into his charitable foundation over claims of a cash-for-honours scandal involving a Saudi billionaire.

The Prince of Wales was joined by his sister Princess Anne to present the Queen's Anniversary Prizes at St James’ Palace in London.

It was also the first time since the 73-year-old had been seen since he was diagnosed for the second time with Covid-19 last week.

His appearance came just hours after the Metropolitan Police announced the Prince’s Foundation, Charles’s charitable body, is at the heart of a criminal inquiry into allegations that a Saudi donor was offered help in securing a knighthood.

But the emerging scandal didn‘t appear to faze the prince at the awards ceremony on Thursday.

Prince Charles and Princess Anne, Princess Royal attend a reception after presenting the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for higher and further education during a ceremony at St James's Palace. Picture: Getty Images

“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,” Scotland Yard said in a statement, delivering another blow to the royal family.

However, there have been no arrests or interviews under caution, police added.

The head of The Prince’s Foundation resigned last year after an internal investigation into the allegations.

Michael Fawcett, chief executive of the foundation, had initially agreed to suspend his duties following newspaper revelations about his links to a Saudi national.

The man, tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, had donated large sums to restoration projects of particular interest to Charles.

Britain's Prince Charles speaks to university representatives during a reception after presenting the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for higher and further education. Picture: AFP

Fawcett, a former valet to the Prince of Wales who has been close to Queen Elizabeth II’s heir for decades, is alleged to have co-ordinated efforts to grant a royal honour and even UK citizenship to Mahfouz.

Mahfouz reportedly denies any wrongdoing.

The announcement marked further turmoil for the royal family, following Prince Andrew’s decision on Tuesday to settle a sexual abuse claim out of court, a scandal that has so far overshadowed Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Michael Fawcett, former valet to Prince Charles and current Chief Executive of the Prince's Foundation. Picture: Getty Images

Charles’ foundation, which helps jobless people get back into work and start small businesses, said it took the claims “very seriously”.

The Charities Commission, which registers and oversees charities in England and Wales, said in November it had opened a formal probe into donations received by Mahfouz’s charitable trust which were intended for the prince’s foundation.

The inquiry will examine whether “certain donations received by the Mahfouz Foundation were intended for the charity, have been used in accordance with the donors’ intentions and if they should be returned to the donor or otherwise applied for charitable purposes”.

Picture: Getty Images

According to the commission, the Mahfouz Foundation was set up “to promote and advance the education of the public in the United Kingdom in the culture, history, language, literature and institutions of the Middle East”.

The Prince’s Foundation, set up in 1986, is not regulated by the Charities Commission but is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator.

The Scottish body in September launched its own probe into reports that the foundation accepted cash from a Russian banker previously convicted of money laundering.

Charles reportedly wrote a letter thanking Dmitry Leus for the money and suggested they could meet after the coronavirus pandemic.

The foundation’s ethics committee declined the donation after discovering Leus’s conviction in Russia in 2004.

The conviction was overturned and he has claimed he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution.

Originally published as Prince Charles spotted in public for the first time since Covid diagnosis and police investigation into his charity