This year was supposed to be focused on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. However, she has been overshadowed by Prince Andrew’s sexual abuse case. The case was settled yesterday but now it seems Prince Charles is under scrutiny. Indeed the Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation on one of his charities.
Discover our latest podcast
The claims
There have been claims that the Prince’s Foundation has offered honours help to a Saudi citizen in exchange for a donation to restoration projects of interest to the prince. The Met Police are investigating the allegations under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.
So far the police have not arrested or interviewed anyone. The Prince’s Foundation has said it would be ‘inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation’. According to the police, the foundation is cooperating with the investigation:
‘The foundation provided a number of relevant documents.
Clarence House reiterated its previous insistence that Prince Charles had ‘no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities’.
Prince Charles is the president of the foundation but does not participate in its governance or its day-to-day operations.
The allegations first appeared in September 2021 following a letter the police received concerning the Prince’s former valet Michael Fawcett. The letter had media reports that Fawcett had supposedly offered to help a Saudi citizen secure an honour. It was in fact the anti-monarchy pressure group Republic that reported the Prince and Fawcett back in September 2021.
After the allegations appeared last September, Fawcett stepped down as chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation but then resigned in November.
Read more:
⋙ Prince Charles: Only these 5 royals may be allowed to stand on the balcony during his coronation
⋙ Prince Charles tests positive for COVID
⋙ Prince Andrew has agreed to settle the sexual abuse case, will his titles be restored?
What does this mean for Prince Charles?
If it is discovered that Prince Charles was part of this deal, his future could be in jeopardy. Indeed if the Met Police find links that the Prince was involved, his accession to the throne could be taken away from him. This investigation comes a week after the Queen share her ‘sincere wish’ that Camilla be Queen Consort when Prince Charles becomes King.
The investigation is still in its early process so only time will tell what will happen, however, if Prince Charles is in trouble, the crown may be passed down to Prince William instead.
Clarence House released a statement saying:
The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities
