Michael Fawcett, his aide to Prince Charles, left the post of head of the prince’s charity amid allegations that he used his position to help a Saudi billionaire receive a “golden visa”.
Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz is said to have paid tens of thousands of dollars to secure the title of honorary commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. [CBE], one of the highest awards for non-British citizens, according to a report published in The Sunday Times.
Fawcett was paid to coordinate the title and help Mahfouz receive a “golden visa”, through which he hoped to obtain UK citizenship and residence, according to the report.
The prince personally awarded the prize to Mahfouz at a private ceremony in 2016 at Buckingham Palace. According to The Times, the ceremony was not published on the official list of royal engagements.
Mahfouz, who denies any offense, has been one of the largest donors to the prince’s charities, and even has a forest that bears his name, having donated more than $ 2 million to help restore projects. on the prince’s estates, among other charities.
The Saudi claims to be an “honorable philanthropist.”
The leaked emails obtained by The Times appoint Fawcett as an intermediary and explicitly show that the donations were in exchange for the OBE award.
An email between a paid Mahfouz advisor and William Bortrick, owner of Burke’s Peerage, says the award was “promised to MBM [Mahfouz Bin Mahfouz] to get the £ 1.5 million he paid for Dumfries [House] i [The Castle of] Mey, “two of the prince’s projects, according to The Times.
Bortrick added “MF [Michael Fawcett] he needs to stand by the negotiation and immediately order the honorable OBE; then help with citizenship “.
Fawcett was able to arrange a meeting between the prince and Mahfouz which led to his award.
Fawcett has helped lead the Prince Foundation for most of the past decade, the Times reported, and the Duke of Wales has described him as an “indispensable” assistant.
In 2003, the royal assistant resigned from Charles after allegations of mismanagement.
The Prince Foundation is an umbrella organization for various charities and educational projects and opportunities focused on the historic Dumfries House estate in Scotland.