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Prince Charles took money from Osama bin Laden’s half-brothers

Prince Charles is once again engulfed in scandal after the royal heir was revealed to have accepted money from Osama bin Laden’s brothers.

Prince Charles accepted $1 million from Osama bin Laden’s family

Prince Charles was engulfed in a fresh storm last night after it emerged he accepted £1 million from Osama bin Laden’s family.

He took the cash from brothers of the terrorist mastermind behind 9/11 and it was eventually deposited into his charity, the Sunday Times said.

Future king Charles, 73, received the money from Bakr and Shafiq bin Laden — paternal half-brothers of slain al-Qaeda leader Osama, reported The Sun.

He brokered the deal after a private meeting at Clarence House with Bakr, 76, on October 30, 2013 — two years after US special forces killed Bin Laden, 54, in Pakistan.

The Prince of Wales banked the donation despite advisers urging him to return it over fears being associated with Bin Laden’s family could be catastrophic to his reputation.

They are said to have warned him his image would be tarnished if his name appeared in the same sentence as Bin Laden, it was reported.

Prince Charles is once again engulfed by scandal. Picture: Chris Jackson/AFP
Prince Charles is once again engulfed by scandal. Picture: Chris Jackson/AFP

A total of 2977 people were killed, including 67 Brits, and more than 6000 injured in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the New York World Trade Center and other locations in the US — involving four hijacked planes.

Osama bin Laden was the leader of the al-Qaeda terror group and inspired the attacks while hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan.

One royal household staff member reportedly told Charles “it would not be good for anybody” if it was revealed in the media he had taken cash from Bin Laden’s family.

The money went to the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation (PWCF). At least one trustee was reportedly among those pleading with him to hand back the money.

A source told The Sunday Times: “The fact a member of the highest level of the British establishment was choosing to broker deals with a name and a family that not only rang alarm bells, but abject horror around the world … why would you do this?

“What good reason is there?”

Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in 2013.
Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in 2013.

One palace insider told the newspaper there was a “great fear” the donation would undermine Charles and the charity’s reputation.

Charles — who dined with Bakr two weeks after 9/11 to “discuss Islamic faith” — is said to have believed it would have been too embarrassing to give the money back.

PWCF chairman Sir Ian Cheshire said the donation was “wholly” agreed by its five trustees at the time.

A charity insider said approval was given after the funds were deposited into the charity’s Coutts bank account.

They were allegedly placed on hold until a later discussion, with the source saying this was in line with Charity Commission rules.

It is the latest woe for Charles, weeks after it was revealed he had accepted a million euros in cash from the ex Qatar Prime Minister.

There is no suggestion Bakr or Shafiq have been involved in terrorism.

Clarence House said: “The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund has assured us that thorough due diligence was undertaken.

“The decision to accept was taken by the charity’s trustees alone.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Prince Charles took money from Osama bin Laden’s half-brothers

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/prince-charles-took-money-from-osama-bin-ladens-halfbrothers/news-story/8f16441a1f28633f00aa64cf638f8ff2