Prince Charles’ charity caught up in police investigation

Amid a tumultuous week for the Royal Family, it’s been revealed that Prince Charles’ charity is now under investigation by police.

Prince Charles’ charity has today been caught up in a Met Police probe over the cash for honours claims.

It follows allegations a Saudi billionaire who donated money to the Prince’s Foundation was offered help to secure UK citizenship and a knighthood.

Clarence House has previously said Charles has “no knowledge” of the alleged honours and citizenship controversy.

No request to question the royal has been made, his spokesman said.

Royal insiders say it’s the charity, rather than Charles himself, under investigation.

A spokesman for Clarence House said: “The Prince of Wales has no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donations to his charities.”

They added: “There is no request [from police for interview].

“If His Royal Highness was asked to help he would of course do so.”

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Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall earlier this month. Picture: Chris Jackson/Pool/AFP

Scotland Yard detectives are said to be looking into allegations relating to Michael Fawcett.

Mr Fawcett is the former chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation and one of the prince’s closest aides.

He stepped down in October amid claims he promised to help secure a CBE and British citizenship for Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz – a donor to the charity.

It was alleged he paid thousands of pounds to ‘fixers’ with links to the prince who said they could secure him an honour in return for donations.

The inquiry is being led by the Met’s Special Enquiry Team, the same unit in charge of the Partygate probe.

Prince Charles’ team says he has “no knowledge” of the alleged offer of honours. Picture: Gareth Fuller/POOL/AFP

‘No knowledge of claims’

Officers have already spoken with The Prince’s Foundation about the findings of an independent investigation into their fundraising.

That first probe, carried out by auditing firm Ernst & Young, found that Mr Fawcett had indeed co-ordinated with fixers.

He was also involved in directing money from the donor’s foundation to another charity of which Charles was patron, it was alleged.

During the review, a letter written by Mr Fawcett to Dr Mahfouz in 2017 emerged.

In the note, Mr Fawcett said the Prince’s Foundation would be “happy and willing” to use its influence to help him, it’s said.

There have been no arrests or interviews under caution.

Charles is president of the foundation but not involved with its governance of day-to-day activities.

Clarence House repeated a previous statement today, telling reporters: “The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.