Prince Charles has been caught in yet another embarrassing ?cash for access? scheme, involving himself, middlemen, thousands of pounds and Dumfries House. Charles?s judgement in the qualities of those around him has once again been called into question.
https://usa-online-news.com/entertainment/prince-charles-has-been-caught-up-in-yet-another-cash-for-access-scheme/
The funds are for charity and the two men that are involved have been cut. The POW isn?t involved and the charity has launched an investigation
Here?s a bit more information Prince of Wales charity launches inquiry into ?cash for access? claims | Prince Charles | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/29/prince-of-wales-charity-princes-foundation-launches-inquiry-into-cash-for-access-claims)
@Macrobug67 -Thank you for finding this information.
From the link that you shared.
QuoteA charity founded by the Prince of Wales has launched an ethics investigation into ?cash for access? claims that middlemen took cuts for setting up dinners involving wealthy donors and the heir to the throne.
The Prince?s Foundation said it was taking the allegations ?very seriously? after it was claimed that individuals could pay ?100,000 to secure a dinner with the charity?s founder and an overnight stay at Dumfries House, his mansion in Scotland. An email was said to reveal that fixers could take up to 25% of the fees, which were intended for the royal?s charity ventures, the Mail on Sunday reported.
Michael Wynne-Parker, a British businessman who was banned in the past by official watchdogs from giving financial advice and serving as a company director, was named as the sender of the email, which sets out what donors could receive.
Five percent of the fees would go to Wynne-Parker, according to the email from November 2019, while 20% would go to another middleman. It states that the money would be paid into the account of Burke?s Peerage, the ?who?s who? of the British aristocracy, and that its editor, William Bortrick, was representing Prince Charles.A spokesperson for the Prince?s Foundation said: ?The Prince?s Foundation takes very seriously the allegations brought to its attention by the Mail on Sunday relating to third parties who have introduced prospective donors to our charity in the past.
?We were not aware of any financial gain being sought by these individuals, whom we have never paid, and have ceased our relationship with these individuals and referred the matter to our ethics committee for investigation. Michael Wynn Parker [sic] does not represent the Prince?s Foundation and the email he sent is not representative of the foundation?s approach to fundraising.?
The Prince?s Foundation, which was created through a merger in 2018 of the Prince?s Foundation for Building Community and others including the Prince?s Regeneration Trust, added in its statement that it was dependent on generous donations to deliver its activity throughout the world.
The investigation will be headed by Douglas Connell, the chair of the Prince?s Foundation, and Dame Susan Bruce, the chair of its ethics committee.
What?s the betting as of now that Charles knew nothing of middlemen in any of his endeavours to draw in rich donors to his charities? Rich donors btw like a certain Indian billionaire who paid for his birthday celbrations a few years back, and others who have offered villas and yachts for his and Camilla?s holidays pre Covid. That?s all been reported in the British Press in the past, so let?s not pretend that Charles doesn?t benefit in one way or another from these donor friendships.
Indian billionaire couple host Prince Charles' birthday bash - The Economic Times (https://m.economictimes.com/indian-billionaire-couple-host-prince-charles-birthday-bash/articleshow/26221686.cms)
Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall On Holiday In Corfu Again This Year ? Greek City Times (https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/08/04/camilla-holiday-corfu-year/amp/)
The aides that run the Prince?s Foundation under Prince Charles?s name and his aegis state that they have now cut ties with ?the individuals concerned?. However, why was Michael Wynne-Parker (a man who, as was pointed out in the article, was banned by official watchdogs from ?giving financial advice and serving as a Company Director?) involved in this in the first place? And he must have been or the people running the Foundation wouldn?t have ?cut ties?.
Because of libel laws I?m not going to state what I believe of Charles?s knowledge of go-betweens in these sorts of financial transactions. However, it again says a lot, once again, about his lack of judgement with reference to the sort of people with whom he surrounds himself.
Michael Fawcett has resigned from his position with the Prince's Foundation.
QuoteThe Prince of Wales?s closest aide dramatically resigned last night after The Mail on Sunday exposed how he offered to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for a billionaire Saudi donor to Charles?s charity.
Michael Fawcett stepped down as chief executive of The Prince?s Foundation after being confronted with a letter in which he said the Royal charity would be ?happy and willing? to use its influence to help businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who had given it hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The charity said that Mr Fawcett ? arguably the Prince?s most trusted aide ? had ?offered to step down temporarily? while its trustees investigate.
A former Palace official said the loss of Mr Fawcett was ?an earthquake? to the future King.
The ?cash for favours? scandal centres on how donations for Charles?s cherished scheme to renovate Dumfries House, a Palladian mansion in Scotland, were solicited and what may have been promised in return.
The bombshell letter, written by Mr Fawcett on August 18, 2017, to Busief Lamlum, an aide to Dr Bin Mahfouz, says: ?In light of the ongoing and most recent generosity of His Excellency... I am happy to confirm to you, in confidence, that we are willing and happy to support and contribute to the application for Citizenship.
'I can further confirm that we are willing to make [an] application to increase His Excellency?s honour from Honorary CBE to that of KBE in accordance with Her Majesty?s Honours Committee.?
Prince Charles' closest aide Michael Fawcett is forced to resign after damning cash for favours note | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9957943/Prince-Charles-closest-aide-Michael-Fawcett-forced-resign-damning-cash-favours-note.html)
CAROLINE GRAHAM: Farewell (again) to Michael Fawcett, the one man Charles says he can't do without | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-9958575/CAROLINE-GRAHAM-Farewell-Michael-Fawcett-one-man-Charles-says-without.html)
Tut, Tut, Tut. Might have known that Charles?s indispensable ?Fawcett the Fence? was knee deep in this ?cash for access? scandal. He has indeed been very close to Charles and Camilla for years and knows many many secrets. Another instance of Charles?s judgement in friends and colleagues being as wonky as the wheel on a ?10 car. Also of Diana?s feelings about him being spot-on.:
And true about selling honours for cash. That was the thing that largely ended Lloyd George?s career as PM.
Very disappointing that this has occurred with the Prince's Foundation. I am hoping that this is the last time Michael Fawcett will be in a position of trust and authority.
Prince Charles? closest aide dramatically resigns following leaked letter ? Royal Central (https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/wales/breaking-prince-charles-closest-aide-dramatically-resigns-following-leaked-letter-165063/)
Quote from: TLLK on September 05, 2021, 01:01:48 AM
Very disappointing that this has occurred with the Prince's Foundation. I am hoping that this is the last time Michael Fawcett will be in a position of trust and authority.
Prince Charles? closest aide dramatically resigns following leaked letter ? Royal Central (https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/wales/breaking-prince-charles-closest-aide-dramatically-resigns-following-leaked-letter-165063/)
I doubt it. Fawcett will find some way of wriggling back into favour. He?s exactly the sort of person Charles likes, ie a fawning sycophant who tells him what he wants to hear, combined with being an enabler and fixer for things the POW doesn?t want to do himself or is wary of. The smooching up to Cam during her rehabilitation years is a bonus for him.
Statement from Clarence House.
QuoteStatement from Clarence House:
"The Prince of Wales has no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities and fully supports the investigation now underway by The Prince's Foundation."
Of course HRH knows nothing, and supports any inquiries from his own Foundation. Which will report back no doubt in a satisfactory manner.
Charles has denied any knowledge of wrongdoing.
Police investigate cash-for-honours and citizenship for Saudi national linked to Prince Charles charity | UK News | Sky News (https://news.sky.com/story/investigation-over-honours-and-citizenship-for-saudi-national-launched-by-police-12543427)
Now that an official investigation has been launched, please use this thread for posting information and discussionMet investigating cash-for-honours claims linked to Prince?s Foundation | Charities | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/16/met-investigating-cash-for-honours-claims-linked-to-princes-foundation)
QuoteScotland Yard has launched an investigation into cash-for-honours allegations linked to the Prince of Wales?s charity the Prince?s Foundation.
In a brief statement, the Metropolitan police said it had launched the investigation after media reports alleging offers of help were made to secure honours and citizenship for a Saudi national.
In September last year, the Sunday Times published claims that the billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz paid tens of thousands of pounds to fixers with links to Prince Charles who had told him they could secure the honour.
Bin Mahfouz was awarded a CBE at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 2016.
The Met said it had received a letter in September last year relating to the media reports and after further inquiries launched an investigation into allegations of offences under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.
There had been no arrests or interviews under caution, the force added.
Clarence House reiterated its previous 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,? while a spokesperson for the Prince?s Foundation said: ?It would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation.?
No, of course Charles knew nothing of what his minders and fixers (some of them very close to him) have done on his behalf for most of his adult life. And I?m Father Christmas just resting at the North Pole! One thing?s for sure, if, at the end of this investigation, a minder, friend, worker, colleague, has to fall on his sword and take one for HRH, the POW won?t be joining them.
And again Charles showing an appalling lack of judgement. Money for a charity handed over by controversial Qatar politician, in a suitcase, shoved into plastic shopping bags! Right!
https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-charles-reportedly-accepted-suitcase-with-152-million-in-cash-from-controversial-qatari-politician/news-story/635fdff8bcf93bdaba5ae28c039dcc2f
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61941113
Pretty stupid considering it's for charity et all.
Prince Charles Will No Longer Accept Charity Donations Following Scandal | PEOPLE.com (https://people.com/royals/prince-charles-will-no-longer-accept-large-cash-donations-charities-following-scandal/)
Prince Charles Accepted Bags of $3 Million in Cash as Charity Donation | PEOPLE.com (https://people.com/royals/prince-charles-accepted-3-million-cash-charity-donation-qatari-prime-minister/)
https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-29/prince-charles-will-no-longer-accept-cash-donations-for-his-charities
https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-26/charles-accepted-suitcase-with-1m-euros-from-sheikh-report-claims
Prince Charles' 'secretive deals with Tory peer who spent ?1.7m bailing out his failed eco-village' being investigated | The Sun (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19074792/prince-charles-secretive-deals-tory-peer-investigated/)
The Prince's Trust has been cleared.
Reuters
Charity Commission: no action needed over Prince Charles cash donation
LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - Britain's Charity Commission said on Wednesday it had decided against carrying out any further investigation into a large sum of cash given to Prince Charles which he then handed over to one of his charities.
Charles' office said the money was handed over to one of his charities which carried out appropriate governance and gave assurances that all the correct processes were followed.
The PoW allegedly accepted a donation from the Bin Laden family (post 9-11).
Prince Charles accepted ?1m from family of Osama bin Laden, report claims | Prince Charles | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/30/prince-charles-accepted-1m-from-family-of-osama-bin-laden-report-claims)
QuoteThe Prince of Wales received a ?1m donation for his charity from relatives of Osama bin Laden, according to a report.
The Sunday Times alleged that the future king accepted the payment from Bakr bin Laden, the patriarch of the Saudi family, and his brother Shafiq.
Prince Charles, 73, is said to have held a private meeting with Bakr, 76, at Clarence House in London on 30 October 2013, two years after Osama bin Laden was shot dead by US special forces at a compound near Islamabad in Pakistan, according to the newspaper.
Clarence House strongly disputes many of the claims, saying the decision to accept the donation to his charity, the Prince of Wales?s Charitable Fund (PWCF), was taken solely by trustees.
Bakr and Shafiq bin Laden are half-brothers of Osama, related to the founder of al-Qaida through their father Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, a Yemeni-born billionaire.
Well, IF this is true, and we certainly don?t know that much of Charles?s involvement is as reported, then all I can say is that Charles?s lack of judgement regarding others, which has been truly awful in the past (Ball, Seville, Fawcett the Fence etc) is called into question once more.
Nobody would ever in their wildest dreams imagine the Queen or Prince Philip having private meetings over charity donations with a terrorist?s relatives or accepting plastic bags full of cash. Sadly that isn?t the case with the POW, Britain?s furure King, and although Imo Charles is fundamentally an honest man (at least that is my hope) his actions regarding donations for his charities leave a really big question mark going forward.
The Bin Laden family should not be paying an adult son bad behavior criminal activities, his own responsibilities, they disowned him, was stripped from his passport and nationality.
Paying the price because of a rogue son?
A bunch of families with black sheeps would be canceled. Including their offspring.
This cancellation mind is poison spreading to blood relatives that are innocent and being affected by a bad relative.
Regression to 1890s Lydia Bennett ran away, the whole family is ruined.
Pride and Prejudice is a work of fiction from 1813 not the 1890?s and the Bennett family weren?t ?ruined? as Lydia saved what was left of her virtue by marrying Mr Wickham, or rather he married her under pressure from Mr Darcy.
Quite what that has to do with the Prince of Wales and his history of bad judgements of people and to say the least very oddly conducted charitable donations from various sources I don?t know, but a broadsheet has an article bringing Charles?s behaviour to public attention and it?s being discussed in forums.
The New York Times report, following The Guardian.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/world/europe/prince-charles-bin-laden-money.html
Late at night (typing), 1790's. The point is the family shouldn't be paying the price because of a Rogue Son.
Prince Charles's charitable fund will not be investigated by a watchdog for accepting GBP1million from the family of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Quote from: wannable on August 01, 2022, 09:11:58 PM
Prince Charles's charitable fund will not be investigated by a watchdog for accepting GBP1million from the family of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
That?s not the point. As many royal observers have pointed out over the last few months, accepting plastic bags full of bankotes, wining and dining dodgy people who have been promised access to you by aides/assistants and accepting money from people whose family name is infamous throughout the world (due to the actions of one member) is, to say the least, terrible optics.
His actions in the matter of dealing with various people who became friends and with wealthy donors have brought Charles?s judgement into question again and again for many years. And the British public know it. I don?t know how many times his and Jimmy Saville?s name have been linked in the comments section when these stories come up, for instance.
It's your right to your opinion. Prince Charles and his charity Trust has been cleared in the past and present.
My last 'general' comment, any further 'detailed' discussion should IMO go to the socialite thread.
Saville: Many famous people liked him, didn't know about his pedo secret life with children at hospitals. Prince Charles being the most famous, hence used by the media.
Fawcett quit, the Met Police pin pointed him 'all over the place'. Cash over access. (A brilliant employee, too ambitious, this was to happen sooner or later)
Qatari Sheikh: Very Middle Eastern to carry loads of cash 2011, still is today for this culture but in a lesser degree. Although I have a Syrian multimillionaire refugee friend, still has that habit of carrying wads (enough to buy a 4x4, which did) of cash. The person (my friend) isn't a offender, criminal or tax evader. (Bank system from 2011 to 2021, the development has improved enourmously) The Sheikh bad deeds discovered later years not during the period of donations 2011-2015.
Bakr and Shafiq Bin Laden: Patriarchs of the Bin Laden Family (or clan) 600 blood related: living between Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UK. 400,000 employees, none of them are terrorists.
@wannable-While I am glad that there's not going to be an investigation I do agree with
@Curryong that the optics of how these donations were accepted are concerning to me. Cultural differences aside, I don't understand why bags of cash were still being used in the 21st century rather than an electronic transfer?
There is cultural differences as I stated. And they still do. i.e. 2022 My refugee friend purchases a home (etransfer), then proceeds to a website to get an idea of full purchase of furnitures, goes to the bank gets the cash, goes to the site to see/spends hours the furniture, pays in cash a huge haul (in the literal sense, he took a briefcase of cash).
The future of payments in the Middle East | McKinsey (https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/the-future-of-payments-in-the-middle-east)
Despite the region?s digitally savvy population?with smartphone penetration reaching 80 to 90 percent in leading markets?the region has remained heavily dependent on cash.
As I previously said, from 2011 to 2022 lesser degree the Middle Eastern people are getting used to digital transfers, but yet 60% prefer cash.
Perfectly understandable that people may feel queasy about Charles and his Charity.
But, I'm here to note some of the cultural understanding that Charles truly has.
The city of London is known as #1 multicultural hub which has one of the most ethnically diverse populations worldwide today. To understand it, one has to dive deep for many years in London.
Charles?s ex aide, Fawcett (the fence) may face prosecution in a cash for Honours case in which he was involved, the Telegraph reports. The police have handed over their files to the Crown Prosecution Services.
King Charles? former aide could face cash for honours charges as police hand file to CPS (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/11/20/king-charles-former-aide-could-face-cash-honours-charges-police/)
UK police to take no action after investigation into cash-for-honors allegation at king's charity | AP News (https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-third-saudi-billionaire-a3f02e6adfa8b1158156d91d8388c6aa)
Quote
LONDON (AP) ? London police said Monday they would take no action on allegations that people associated with one of King Charles III?s charities offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure a knighthood and British citizenship in return for donations.
The Metropolitan Police Service began an investigation into the matter after the Times of London reported that a longtime aide to Charles had suggested the then-Prince of Wales would support a Saudi citizen?s request for the honors in return for up to 1.5 million pounds ($2 million) in donations to the charity, The Prince?s Foundation.
The department said it reviewed documents provided by the foundation and the newspaper, and consulted with prosecutors before concluding its investigation.
?After careful consideration of the information received as a result of the investigation to date, the Met has concluded that no further action will be taken in this matter,?? police said in a statement.
Charles? representatives had previously said that he wasn?t aware of any offers to bestow honors or expedite citizenship in return for donations to his charities. The palace said it had noted the police decision.
The foundation said in a statement it, too, noted the police decision.
?Following the conclusion of its own independent investigation and governance review last year, the charity is moving forward with a continued focus on delivering the education and training programs for which it has been established,? the foundation said.