Prince Charlesis said to have once uttered: “I can manage without just about anyone, except for Michael [Fawcett].”
But he may now have to get used to being without his Mr. Indispensable, who over four decades has risen from footman toQueen Elizabethto valet to the prince to ultimately being arguably one of his closest staffers.
Fawcett has resigned, temporarily at least, from his role as the chief executive of Charles’s Prince’s Foundation following claims made in a series of newspaper articles over the weekend about how official honors were sought on behalf of a Saudi businessman.
Prince Charles with Michael Fawcett.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Douglas Connell, Chair of thePrince’s Foundation, confirmed Fawcett’s resignation in a statement: “Michael Fawcett offered to step down temporarily from active duties as Chief Executive of The Prince’s Foundation while the Trustees' investigation is ongoing. The Prince’s Foundation has accepted this offer. Michael fully supports the ongoing investigation and has confirmed that he will assist the investigation in every way.”
The Sunday TimesandThe Mail on Sundaycarried allegations that Fawcett helped support a campaign for official honors for Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz.
Fawcett continued in the letter: “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.Jane Barlow/Getty
Mahfouz — whoThe Sunday Timessays denies any wrongdoing — has reportedly been a generous donor to two of Charles’s pet projects, the restorations of Dumfries House and the Castle of Mey, both in Scotland, which Fawcett ran at the time of the donations.
A spokesperson for the Prince’s Foundation said in a statement: “The Prince’s Foundation takes very seriously the allegations that have recently been brought to its attention and the matter is currently under investigation.”
The foundation is run separately from Clarence House, under which the Prince operates his royal duties.
Charles — who helped his mother the Queen entertain Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie, at Balmoral over the weekend — has not commented on the claims.
source: people.com
