Prince Charles has been spotted for the first time since cash for honours allegations surrounding his charities emerged.
The Prince of Wales donned a colourful face mask as he joined the Duchess of Cornwall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow to celebrate its 120th anniversary today.
The couple, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, also chatted to visitors as they embarked on a ‘business as usual’ round of engagements in Scotland.
It marked the heir to the throne’s first Royal engagement since the claims by a former fixer who said the Royal was ‘100 per cent’ behind an offer to help Saudi tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz get UK citizenship.
The allegation by William Bortrick – a paid advisor to Dr bin Mahfouz, who is a major donor to Charles’s charities – comes as the Prince’s former valet Michael Fawcett was forced to step down as chief of the Prince’s Foundation.
A string of claims about 58-year-old Mr Fawcett’s conduct while running the charity included the allegation he had offered to ‘support’ Dr bin Mahfouz in his efforts to secure both a knighthood and British citizenship.
And new allegations about Charles’s apparent involvement emerged in a draft letter from Mr Bortrick to Dr bin Mahfouz, who donated more than £1.5million to Charles’s charities.
The letter by Burke’s Peerage publisher Mr Bortrick, which was drafted in May 2014 and revealed by The Times on Monday, said Dr bin Mahfouz’s application for citizenship would ‘now take the highest priority’.
It added: ‘His Royal Highness supports these applications 100 per cent, as there is no greater example of contribution [than] yours, therefore this should be rewarded and recognised accordingly.’
A spokesman for the Prince said: ‘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 under way by The Prince’s Foundation.’
Mr Bortrick also suggested in the draft letter that Dr bin Mahfouz would get the opportunity to meet the Queen ‘in the next few months’, and receive the ‘special honours’ of a knighthood before full House of Lords membership.
But the newspaper reported that there was no evidence of whether the letter was sent or agreed by Charles’s advisers – and MailOnline has contacted a Clarence House spokesman for comment.
Prince Charles has been spotted for the first time since cash for honours allegations surrounding his charities emerged
The Prince of Wales donned a colourful face mask as he joined the Duchess of Cornwall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow to celebrate its 120th anniversary today
The Prince of Wales donned a colourful face mask as he joined the Duchess of Cornwall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow to celebrate its 120th anniversary today
Charles and Camilla were greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Glasgow, Philip Braat, when they arrived at the museum on Tuesday and were introduced to Museum Manager, Neil Ballantyne and Head of Museums and Collections, Duncan Dornan
The couple were shown round the museum, where they saw exhibits including the painting Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali and a display about remembering Srebrenica
The Prince then moved on to view exhibit ‘Burrell at Kelvingrove – Collecting Chinese Treasures’ with Duncan Dornan, Head of Museums and Collections at Glasgow Life.
Charles, who prides loyalty and discretion above anything, once said he could ‘manage without just about anyone, except for Michael’
The appeared marked the heir to the throne’s first Royal engagement since the claims by a former fixer who said the Royal was ‘100 per cent’ behind an offer to help Saudi tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz get UK citizenship
Prince Charles awards a CBE to Saudi tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz at Buckingham Palace in November 2016
Burke’s Peerage publisher William Bortrick, a paid advisor to Dr bin Mahfouz, who is a major donor to Charles’s charities
The Duchess of Cornwall stroked an albatross model as she and the Prince of Wales visited the museum for its 120th anniversary today.
They were given a tour of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum which opened in 1901 for the Glasgow International Exhibition and in 1902 became the city’s civic art gallery and museum.
It reopened in 2006 after being closed for three years for refurbishment and has since welcomed more than 19 million visitors.
Charles and Camilla were greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Glasgow, Philip Braat, when they arrived at the museum on Tuesday and were introduced to Museum Manager, Neil Ballantyne and Head of Museums and Collections, Duncan Dornan.
The couple, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, met museum staff, members of the Cop26 team and members of the Cabinet Office Cop26 team.
Mr Fawcett was pictured outside his home in London on Monday morning walking his dog with his wife Debbie Burke.
New allegations about Charles’s apparent involvement emerged in a draft letter from Mr Bortrick to Dr bin Mahfouz, who donated more than £1.5million to Charles’s charities
It marked the heir to the throne’s first Royal engagement since the claims by a former fixer who said the Royal was ‘100 per cent’ behind an offer to help Saudi tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz get UK citizenship
The prince is understood to have ‘known nothing’ of either Mr Fawcett’s letter or of emails from fixers about the prospect of an honour
The Prince’s Foundation, established by Charles in 1986, is also facing the threat of a possible police inquiry
It follows reports that a letter on headed notepaper made clear that Mr Fawcett was prepared to assist in bumping up the tycoon’s honorary CBE to a knighthood.
Dr bin Mahfouz has been one of the most prolific donors to the prince’s charities, giving more than £1.5million to help fund renovations of residences supported by Charles.
The prince is understood to have ‘known nothing’ of either Mr Fawcett’s letter or of emails from fixers about the prospect of an honour.
Indeed, the Mail understands that he was ‘so surprised’ by the claims that he ‘couldn’t believe them’ at first.
However, the revelations in The Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Times represented the third time the future king has found himself facing a scandal involving Mr Fawcett – who has twice before been forced to resign from royal service.
Mr Fawcett – at his own suggestion – has agreed to temporarily step down from his £95,000-a-year role with the Foundation while an investigation is carried out. The future king, crucially, is said to be ‘supportive’ of this.
But last night he faced pressure to finally cut ties with his former valet if allegations of wrongdoing are found to be proven, with one source suggesting there should be a ‘timely parting of ways’.
The Prince’s Foundation is also facing the threat of a possible police inquiry.
Former minister Norman Baker, a respected author on royal finances, said the sale of honours was an offence and he would be writing to Met Commissioner Cressida Dick to ask her to investigate.
He said: ‘The letter from Michael Fawcett seems to show there is a prima facie link being made between the donor getting an honour for money coming into Prince Charles’s charity, which is an offence.’
Mr Baker questioned whether an internal inquiry by the charity would be conducted with significant rigour, given Mr Fawcett’s elevated position.
Mr Fawcett has twice bounced back from scandals – once over bullying claims and again over the alleged sale of royal gifts – because of the prince’s reliance on him.
Charles, who prides loyalty and discretion above anything, once said he could ‘manage without just about anyone, except for Michael’.
Prince Charles is pictured with his former valet Michael Fawcett, 58, at the Castle of Mey in Caithness, Scotland, in May 2019
Prince Charles and Camilla are pictured last Tuesday on a visit to the Ballater Community and Heritage Hub in Aberdeenshire
One source said: ‘What we have seen so far is the tip of the iceberg. Just because these are charities championed by the Prince of Wales doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be subject to the same checks, balances and scrutiny as any other charity.’
Last week the Prince’s Foundation launched an investigation following other ‘cash for access’ claims. Society fixer Michael Wynne-Parker was accused of offering a dinner with Charles and an overnight stay at Dumfries House for £100,000.
Mr Fawcett has agreed to ‘temporarily’ step down from his £95,000-a-year role with the Foundation. He is pictured outside his home in London on Sunday
Mr Wynne-Parker, an adviser to Dr bin Mahfouz, allegedly wrote an email saying fixers would pocket up to 25 per cent of the fees.
But the latest disclosures pose far more serious questions about the conduct of those close to the prince.
They will also prompt renewed scrutiny of the honours system and whether it is open to monetary influence.
Last night the Prince’s Foundation said it had beefed up its investigation by arranging for a senior forensic accountant from a ‘big four’ firm to carry out an independent review.
The bombshell letter was allegedly written by Mr Fawcett on August 18, 2017, to Dr bin Mahfouz’s aide Busief Lamlum.
It 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.’
The letter makes no effort to disguise that support for any knighthood and citizenship application depends on Dr bin Mahfouz’s financial support.
Writing in his then capacity as chief executive of the Dumfries House Trust, Mr Fawcett added: ‘I hope that this confirmation is sufficient in allowing us to go forward.’
A year later, Mr Fawcett was put in charge of Charles’s entire charitable empire as chief executive of the Foundation.
One of his main tasks was securing donations for Dumfries House, which Charles saved for the nation in 2007 – in part through a £20million loan from his then charitable trust.
Last night Clarence House said it was taking the matter ‘very seriously’. Mr Fawcett declined to comment.
A spokesman for Dr bin Mahfouz said he had ‘not had personal or direct communication to either request, influence or make any arrangements regarding citizenship or knighthood with Mr Fawcett, or anyone connected to HRH The Prince of Wales or the Prince’s Foundation’.