Police Launch Investigation Into Prince Charles's
Charity
The Metropolitan Police launched an inquiry that the
Prince’s Foundation exchanged donations for royal honors.
BY EMILY
BURACK
FEB 16, 2022
The
Metropolitan Police announced on Wednesday that detectives have begun an
inquiry into Prince Charles's charity around cash-for-honors allegations that
surfaced last year.
"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 Metropolitan Police said in a
statement. "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."
The charges
of wrongdoing center on the Prince's Foundation, an educational charity that
Charles founded, which allegedly exchanged donations for royal honors and
British citizenship. The Metropolitan Police said their investigation is under
the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act of 1925—a law that makes the sale of
peerages or any other honors illegal.
The chief
executive of the Prince's Foundation was, until September 2021, Michael
Fawcett—one of Prince Charles's closest confidants and aides. Fawcett was
accused of helping to arrange a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British
Empire—the highest rank of the OBE awards) for Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei
Mubarak bin Mahfouz, in addition to offering to help secure British citizenship
for him. Fawcett resigned shortly after the allegations surfaced. Per the
Times, Mahfouz has donated more than £1.5 million to royal charities, including
some of Charles's pet projects like the restoration of Dumfries House and the
Castle of Mey in Scotland. Mahfouz reportedly denies any wrongdoing.
"The
Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British
citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities," Clarence House
said in a statement to Town & Country.
According
to the police, there have been no arrests or interviews under caution yet.
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