Prince Charles' former aide 'co-ordinated with fixers' over honours
The Prince of Wales' closest former aide co-ordinated with "fixers" over honours nominations for a Saudi billionaire donor to the Prince's Foundation, an investigation into the cash for honours scandal has found.
Michael Fawcett, who resigned as the foundation's chief executive after a string of allegations, was involved in directing money from the donor's foundation to another charity of which the prince was patron, it was revealed.
Dame Sue Bruce, the chairman of the Prince's Foundation, described the recent crises surrounding the future king's charitable organisation as a "difficult chapter", but said "lessons will be learned" to ensure the charity acts with the "utmost integrity and probity".
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is now examining the report, and is "carefully considering" its own inquiry.
Clarence House said: "It is important to His Royal Highness that the charities which bear his name operate to the highest standards, in accordance with rules established by charity regulators.
"We are taking this opportunity to reinforce guidance to these charities, particularly in respect of their relationships with supporters."
Mr Fawcett resigned in November amid claims he promised to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz.
Evidence of 'communication and co-ordination' with fixers
The investigation found evidence of Mr Fawcett's "communications and co-ordination" with "so-called 'fixers' regarding honorary nominations for a donor between 2014-18", the summary said, claiming trustees were not aware of his actions at the time.
A summary of the findings revealed that Mr Fawcett and another senior employee were involved in directing a transfer of funds from the Mahfouz Foundation, founded by Dr bin Mahfouz, to the Children and the Arts Foundation (CATA), which is semi-defunct.
The activity, including written correspondence, took place without the knowledge or approval of the Prince's Foundation trustees, according to the investigation.
The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into the Mahfouz Foundation over allegations that donations intended for the Prince's Foundation went to CATA instead.
The Prince's Foundation initially received £100,000 from Russian banker Dmitry Leus, via the Mahfouz Foundation, but Charles' charity's ethics committee rejected the money and returned it to the Mahfouz Foundation.
Other findings from the investigation stated there was no evidence that employees or trustees of the foundation were aware of private dinners being sold or arranged in exchange for money.
It also said there was no evidence of the foundation paying commissions to society fixer Michael Wynne-Parker or Burke's Peerage editor William Bortrick.
The foundation said: "The investigation did identify other instances of commissions being discussed or paid.
"It is not uncommon for charities to pay commission to third parties for the introduction of donors."
OSCR said it was carefully considering the report and continuing with its inquiry "before we decide what action, if any, is required in this case".
Norman Baker, the former Liberal Democrat MP, has previously written to the Metropolitan Police asking them to launch a criminal investigation into the cash for honours claims.
