London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 25, 2025

Police to investigate Prince Charles' charity

Police to investigate Prince Charles' charity

The Metropolitan Police is to investigate claims Prince Charles' charity offered honours help to a Saudi citizen.

The force said it is investigating alleged offences under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.

There have been no arrests or interviews under caution, the Met said.

The Prince's Foundation said it would be "inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation".

It is understood to be continuing to offer its full co-operation to the Metropolitan Police.

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".

He is president of the foundation but is not involved with its governance, with the charity's trustees overseeing its day-to-day activities.

The Met's decision to investigate follows its assessment of a letter it received last September relating to media reports that Prince Charles' former valet Michael Fawcett allegedly offered to help secure an honour for a Saudi citizen.

Anti-monarchy pressure group Republic reported the heir to the throne and Mr Fawcett to the police last September.

Its chief executive Graham Smith said: "We hope the investigation will be carried out without fear or favour and be as thorough as it needs to be."

After the allegations emerged, Mr Fawcett temporarily stepped back as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation, before resigning in November. The charity announced an investigation into the allegations.

Turbulent days for Royal Family

The timing couldn't have been worse.

The early headlines on Wednesday were of Prince Andrew's settlement with Virginia Giuffre, of how he pays for it and the Queen's woes.

By lunchtime, things became more complicated, with news of the Metropolitan Police's "cash for honours" investigation into Prince Charles's charity foundation.

It leaves the prospect of the heir to the throne being questioned by the police as part of this inquiry.

These have been a turbulent couple of days for the royal family.

Prince Charles's team have reinforced their statement that the Prince knew nothing of any alleged offer of cash for honours and a knighthood.

This year was supposed to be one for a celebration of royalty and the Queen's historic 70-year reign.

So far, it's not the Jubilee making the headlines.

The royal household will hope the Prince Andrew situation is now resolved and that the Met Police investigation is completed quickly.

But so far, things haven't been running according to plan.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that its decision to investigate alleged offences followed "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".

It added: "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.

"These documents were reviewed alongside existing information. The assessment determined an investigation will commence.

"There have been no arrests or interviews under caution."

The businessman, Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, is reported to have donated money to restoration projects of interest to Prince Charles. Mr Mahfouz is not accused of, and denies, any wrongdoing.

Honours - such as MBEs, OBEs and CBEs - publicly recognise people's achievements in public life or commitment to serving Britain and anyone in the UK can nominate a British national to receive one.

Honorary awards are given to people who are not British or a national of a country where the Queen is Head of State.

Most are awarded on the recommendation of an honours committee within the Cabinet Office, which is then sent to the prime minister and awarded by the Queen.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
×