Michael Fawcett: Top aide of Prince Charles facing police probe over Saudi cash

Michael Fawcett allegations
Michael Fawcett, a former assistant valet to Prince Charles, who has stepped down as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation
PA
Robert Jobson6 September 2021

Prince Charles’s charity boss Michael Fawcett is facing a possible police investigation over claims that a Saudi billionaire was promised a knighthood and British passport in return for donations.

Charles has been left “shocked” after reports that Mr Fawcett — who has “temporarily stepped down” from his £95,000-a-year chief executive role at Charles’s charity the Prince’s Foundation — was willing to help tycoon Dr Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, a leaked letter shows.

Sources close to Prince Charles insist he was unaware of 58-year-old Mr Fawcett’s alleged activities and was “surprised” when he was told.

But former Lib-Dem MP Norman Baker has written to Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick asking for the officers to investigate.

An ex-royal aide told the Standard: “Michael is a key player for the boss. This is a huge embarrassment, make no mistake.”

The Prince’s Foundation chairman Douglas Connell said a full investigation is under way. Dr Mahfouz has donated £1.5million, spent mostly on renovating two of Charles’s properties in Scotland.

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