Disastrous sequence for the British royal family: Scotland Yard confirmed on Wednesday February 16, the opening of an investigation into the practices of Prince Charles’ main charity, the Prince’s Foundation. The announcement comes the day after that of an amicable agreement between Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew, which, if it spares the latter the great unpacking of a public trial for sexual assault, has not for all that redeemed his honor.
Greater London police want to clear up suspicions of “cash-for-honours” (money against honors – an illegal transaction under British law) linked to the organization of the heir to the throne. In a press release, she explains that she was alerted by press revelations that the charity had offered a wealthy Saudi to help him obtain decorations and British nationality. In September 2021, the Sunday Times told that the billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak Ben Mahfouz had paid tens of thousands of pounds sterling to intermediaries linked to the foundation who assured him that they could obtain decorations for him.
Suspicions of donations against decorations
Mr. Mahfouz was decorated by Prince Charles with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire, “for services to British charities” at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 2016. Mr Mahfouz has made significant donations (in all £1.5m, around €1.8m) for restoration projects including in Dumfries House, a sumptuous Palladian residence bought by the Prince’s Foundation, and in the royal residence of Mey in Scotland. “The Prince of Wales was unaware of the allegations of offers of honors or British nationality, in exchange for donations to his charity,” assured a spokesperson for Prince Charles on Wednesday. Michael Fawcett, ex-valet of Prince Charles and executive director of the royal foundation, resigned in the fall of 2021.
The police cell responsible for investigating the affair of the Prince’s Foundation is the same one which was entrusted with the very delicate file of “partygate”, these parties organized in Downing Street in full confinement.
In addition, criticism is mounting in the media and among British politicians concerning the conditions of the amicable agreement signed by Prince Andrew. Who actually advanced the £12 million granted by the Duke of York (according to the Daily Telegraph) – on the understanding that British taxpayers shouldn’t have to spend a pence on Andrew’s mistakes? Labor MP Jess Phillips, known for her commitment to violence against women, has also found « ridicule » the commitment made by the Prince of” to help “ victims of sexual abuse.
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