He is the “indispensable” assistant about whom Prince Charles once exclaimed, “I can handle it without almost anyone but Michael.”
But when Michael Fawcett left ‘temporarily’ last night as chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation, many will wonder if four-decade-old Charles ’right hand can dodge the bullet again.
The 58-year-old has been forced to resign twice before, once after being accused of bullying in 1998 and again in 2003, when he was christened “Fawcett the fence” to sell gifts. royal.
Then his closeness to his master (apparently he pushed toothpaste into the prince’s toothbrush when Charles broke his arm playing polo) helped him get him back from the desert.
But who is the former integral student with such a seemingly impenetrable prey of our future king?
Born in Orpington, Kent, he arrived at Buckingham Palace at the age of 17 and left catering university.
A former royal aide who witnessed Fawcett’s remarkable rise to the ranks said: “When he first arrived, it was Michael Buxton-Fawcett, who sounded great.
‘We used to jokingly call him‘ Sir Michael ’. He soon dropped Buxton, who was his mother’s maiden name.
As Michael Fawcett left last night “temporarily” as chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation, many will wonder if Charles ’four-decade-old right hand can dodge the bullet again.
The aide said, “His ascent was remarkable for someone of such modest descent. He became a senior lacayet, then Charles’s valet.
“From that moment on, he dug in and secured his position. He is one of the few people in whom the prince absolutely trusts. He exerts an extraordinary influence.
When the Prince and Princess of Wales formally separated in 1992, Fawcett remained firmly on the Charles team.
In fact, according to Diana, she didn’t like it so much that she changed the locks on Kensington Palace moments before Fawcett arrived to pick up her husband’s clothes.
Fawcett approached Camilla Parker Bowles.
A source said: “It was Michael who helped protect and guide her as she passed from the royal lover to the Duchess of Cornwall.
“It became indispensable for them as a couple.”
In fact, it is said that it was Camilla who intervened when Fawcett first resigned in 1998 following allegations of intimidation.
“His resignation was accepted, but Camilla intervened and convinced Charles to reinstate him,” the aide said.
Five years later, Fawcett retired again after an internal investigation found he had breached the rules by accepting and selling gifts that Charles did not want.
Crucially, the investigation cleared him of any financial shortcomings.
“Fawcett took the heat for this, but his actions pleased Prince Charles even more because he fell into the sword and demonstrated his loyalty,” a member of the report said.
Fawcett received £ 500,000 in severance pay and, after setting up the company Premier Mode Ltd, became the organizer of the Prince’s party.
He also oversaw renovations to the removal of Prince’s Highland, Birkhall, the former home of the Queen Mother, and in 2013 was responsible for Charles ’pet project, the renovation of the Dumfries House.
In 2018 he was appointed director of the Prince’s Foundation for £ 95,000 a year.
Fawcett oversaw renovations to the removal of Prince’s Highland, Birkhall, the former home of the Queen Mother, and in 2013 took charge of Charles ’pet project, the renovation of the Dumfries House.
“Michael talks to the prince at least two or three times a day,” the source added. “It’s so close.”
Over the years, Fawcett has begun to mimic the taste of his head in clothing, with custom-made Savile Row dresses, custom-made shirts, and a square pocket that came out of his breast pocket.
‘Play with your fists like Charles does. He even started talking with the same inflections, ”the assistant said.
But there have been wrong steps.
Her eyebrows were raised when, for a fundraising event, she hired Irish dancer Michael Flatley to perform with a troupe of dancers “who took off their clothes to reveal sparse bikinis.”
The jaws fell. These were high-end donors, some of whom had paid tens of thousands of pounds to be there, perhaps more. It was inappropriate, ”said one guest who attended the event.
Fawcett has been married for more than two decades to Debbie, 59, a former palace maid.
The couple has two children, Oliver and Emily, both in their twenties, who work for Premier Mode.
In 2000, Fawcett was appointed a member of the Victorian Order, and until now, many believed he would get a knight when Charles became king.
“Anything people say about Michael, has helped raise millions of pounds and created hundreds of jobs,” one supporter said.
His loyalty to the prince has never given up. In any case, their bond is stronger than ever.