Michael Fawcett: Charles' former aide steps down over honour claims

The Prince of Wales’s closest aide dramatically resigned final evening after The Mail on Sunday uncovered how he supplied to assist safe a knighthood and British citizenship for a billionaire Saudi donor to Charles’s charity.

Michael Fawcett stepped down as chief govt of The Prince’s Foundation after being confronted with a letter by which he stated the Royal charity can be ‘happy and willing’ to use its affect to assist businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who had given it a whole lot of hundreds of kilos.

The charity stated that Mr Fawcett – arguably the Prince’s most trusted aide – had ‘offered to step down temporarily’ whereas its trustees examine.

A former Palace official stated the lack of Mr Fawcett was ‘an earthquake’ to the longer term King.

The ‘cash for favours’ scandal centres on how donations for Charles’s cherished scheme to renovate Dumfries House, a Palladian mansion in Scotland, have been solicited and what might have been promised in return.

The bombshell letter, written by Mr Fawcett on August 18, 2017, to Busief Lamlum, an aide to Dr Bin Mahfouz, 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.’

Michael Fawcett, The Prince of Wales’s closest aide, dramatically resigned final evening after The Mail on Sunday uncovered how he supplied to assist safe a knighthood and British citizenship for a billionaire Saudi donor

The revelation comes per week after this newspaper printed a leaked e mail by which society fixer Michael Wynne-Parker offered particulars of how dinner with Charles and an in a single day keep at Dumfries House might be secured in change for a six-figure donation paid by way of a checking account linked to Burke’s Peerage, a information to the aristocracy.

With Charles dealing with the specter of the scandal wreaking critical hurt to his repute, the MoS can reveal that:

Former Minister Norman Baker, a revered writer on royal funds, stated the sale of honours was an offence and he can be contacting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and asking her to examine;

The Prince’s Foundation, which is registered in Scotland, had alerted the Scottish Charity Regulator to its probe;

Mystery deepened in regards to the whereabouts of a £500,000 donation to the Prince’s Foundation by a Russian banker whose invite to Dumfries House was revoked

The charity went into business with a Latvian tycoon who was later convicted of money-laundering.

In his damning letter to Mr Lamlum, Mr Fawcett makes no effort to disguise that assist for the knighthood and citizenship application will depend on Dr Bin Mahfouz’s monetary assist.

Writing on headed notepaper in his then capability as chief govt of the Dumfries House Trust, he stated: ‘Both of these applications will be made in response to the most recent and anticipated support [of] The Trust, and in connection with his ongoing commitment generally within the United Kingdom. I hope that this confirmation is sufficient in allowing us to go forward.’

A year later, Mr Fawcett’s obligations grew when he was put accountable for Charles’s total charitable empire because the £95,000-a-year chief govt of the Foundation.

The charity stated that Mr Fawcett – arguably the Prince’s most trusted aide – had ‘offered to step down temporarily’ whereas its trustees examine as former Palace officers famous his departure was ‘an earthquake’ to the longer term King

One of his major duties was securing donations for Dumfries House, which Charles purchased in 2007 and which he has spent many hundreds of thousands of kilos on renovating.

Responding to our revelations, Douglas Connell, chairman of The Prince’s Foundation, stated final evening: ‘Earlier today, Michael Fawcett offered to step down temporarily from active duties as chief executive of The Prince’s Foundation whereas the trustees’ investigation is ongoing.

‘The Prince’s Foundation has accepted this supply. Michael totally helps the continuing investigation and has confirmed that he’ll help in each approach.’

Emily Cherrington, the Foundation’s chief working officer, will assume Mr Fawcett’s obligations whereas the probe is carried out.

Last evening, a spokesman for Dr Bin Mahfouz stated 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’.

The bombshell letter, written by Mr Fawcett on August 18, 2017, to Busief Lamlum, an aide to Dr Bin Mahfouz, 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.’ Above: Charles meets Dr Bin Mahfouz

Insisting that Dr Bin Mahfouz had not expected any reward for his charitable donations, the spokesman added: ‘His Excellency had expressed an interest in applying for citizenship but in the end decided not to pursue that further.’

The sheikh, who obtained an honorary CBE from Prince Charles in 2016 ‘for services to charities in the UK’, is an Anglophile whose household made its fortune within the Middle East in motels, property and manufacturing.

He has made a number of six-figure donations to Charles’s charities and in October 2014 was invited to Dumfries House for the revealing of a brand new fountain named in his honour.

Mr Wynne-Parker, then a Trustee of the Mahfouz Foundation, was photographed on the occasion shaking arms with Prince Charles. William Bortrick, the editor of Burke’s Peerage, is seen smiling within the background a couple of toes away.

The departure of Mr Fawcett –who wielded energy larger than most courtiers and was dubbed ‘Rasputin’ by some colleagues – will ship shockwaves by way of Charles’s family.

Mr Fawcett has twice been forced to resign previously, however every time has been reinstated to a position of affect.

A former Royal aide stated he was stunned by Charles’s continued reliance on such a controversial determine. ‘Michael brings the money in and gets results, so the Prince feels he needs him around, but I never liked him.

‘More importantly, Michael is a serious risk as far as the Prince’s repute is involved.’

Another supply stated that there had been ‘a reluctant acceptance’ that Charles would want to ‘dine with the Bond villains’ – rich and sometimes vibrant overseas buyers – to usher in main donations required to hold his bold charity initiatives afloat.

The investigation into Mr Fawcett is the second now being performed by the Prince’s Foundation. Its ethics committee is already probing Mr Wynne-Parker’s e mail by which he set out how rich donors might pay £100,000 to safe a lavish dinner with the Prince of Wales and an in a single day keep at Dumfries House.

The e mail stated fixers would pocket up to 25 per cent of the charges, an association about which the Prince insists he was unaware.

The e mail stated ‘clients’ would assemble for pre-dinner drinks earlier than meeting Charles, explaining: ‘HRH appears and greets each guest individually with conversation and photographer,’ and raised the opportunity of relationships lasting longer than the Dumfries House go to.

Shaking arms with a Prince: Pin-striped fixer Michael Wynne-Parker’s VERY chequered business previous

Standing within the grand entrance corridor of Dumfries House, Prince Charles warmly clasped the hand of veteran fundraiser Michael Wynne-Parker.

Smiling a couple of toes away and well wearing a pin-striped swimsuit was William Bortrick, the writer of the aristocratic bible Burke’s Peerage.

The three males have been gathered to have a good time and mark the generosity of one other determine within the room, Dr Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz.

Society fixer Mr Wynne-Parker was an advisor to the Saudi businessman, who had agreed to donate a major sum to Dumfries House, the 18th Century Palladian mansion in Ayrshire.

Standing within the grand entrance corridor of Dumfries House, Prince Charles warmly clasped the hand of veteran fundraiser Michael Wynne-Parker (pictured above). The three males have been gathered to have a good time and mark the generosity of one other determine within the room, Dr Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz (pictured, again proper)

The Prince’s Foundation established by the longer term King has labored for years to painstakingly – and expensively – restore the property, with Charles overseeing each element.

The occasion in October 2014 to open landscaped gardens and a fountain named after Dr Bin Mahfouz celebrated the primary of a string of beneficiant donations that he made to the Prince’s initiatives.

The following year, he reportedly gave £370,000 to the Castle of Mey, the Highlands retreat as soon as owned by the Queen Mother and now one other of Charles’ charitable ventures.

On this event, a close-by wooden was named within the businessman’s honour and 6 benches got plaques bearing his title and people of his kin.

Supporting Charles might, nonetheless, have doubtlessly supplied greater than benches and bushes.

A letter obtained by The Mail on Sunday reveals the Prince’s Foundation was ‘willing and happy’ to assist Dr Bin Mahfouz’s application for British citizenship and to suggest him for a knighthood.

Last week, Mr Wynne-Parker claimed to have organized donations totalling £2 million from a Saudi businessman who had been invited to Dumfries House a number of instances

The writer of the note, written in August 2017, was Michael Fawcett, one among Charles’s most influential aides.

The revelation drags the royal ‘cash for access’ scandal far nearer to the Prince’s doorstep.

Toffs’ information chairman with hyperlinks to Putin’s high sport

After being out of print for practically twenty years, the once-revered aristocratic information Burke’s Peerage might now not be required studying within the nation’s stately properties – however the title is nonetheless a robust calling card.

Its chairman William Bortrick is a well-known determine in London’s personal golf equipment and eating rooms and may typically be seen hovering within the background at most of the capabilities and ceremonies attended by society fixer Michael Wynne-Parker.

He is additionally a member of the founding board of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, which is chaired by Mr Wynne-Parker and has confronted disputed allegations that it is a entrance for Russian affect.

Mr Wynne-Parker has dismissed such claims as ‘crazy’ and insists the society is a spiritual and cultural organisation.

Mr Bortrick is additionally an adviser to the Commonwealth Sambo Association, which champions a Russian martial artwork and fight sport which can function within the 2028 Olympics and is strongly backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The combating strategies have been developed by the Soviet Red Army within the early Nineteen Twenties to enhance unarmed fight.

Mr Wynne-Parker is president of the affiliation and commonly presides over fight occasions.

The hyperlinks between the 2 males are beneath scrutiny following claims that donations for The Prince’s Foundation might be despatched by way of a Burke’s Peerage checking account.

Mr Bortrick has denied any wrongdoing and that the proposed association, revealed in an e mail written by Mr Wynne-Parker and printed final weekend by The Mail on Sunday, was ever mentioned with him.

He stated if he had been instructed about it, he would have ‘hit the roof’ as a result of it was so inappropriate.

Burke’s Peerage was established by the genealogist John Burke in 1826, increasing through the years into varied editions.

The agency was chaired from 1974 to 1983 by the entrepreneur Jeremy Norman, who based the homosexual nightclub Heaven and established the health chain Soho Gyms.

The title was purchased by Mr Bortrick in 2013, who now runs it with the Canadian investor and entrepreneur Sam Malin.

Irene Major, who is Malin’s spouse and lives with him in a Gothic mansion in Kent, wrote on her Instagram web page final week: ‘I’m not concerned in promoting entry to Prince Charles and resent any implication that I’m; any involvement I’ve with the Royal Family is for charity functions.’

Burke’s Peerage says on its web site that it intends to publish additional editions, however is nonetheless within the means of updating information. The final printed version was in 2003.

One of the businesses by which Bortrick is a director, Burke’s Peerage Enterprises, had web belongings of simply £3,797 on the finish of final March, whereas one other, Burke’s Peerage, had web belongings of £1.9 million.

Last week, The Mail on Sunday revealed an e mail written by Mr Wynne-Parker detailing how purchasers might pay six-figure sums to safe dinner with Charles and an in a single day keep at Dumfries House.

In the e-mail, he proposed taking a 5 per cent fee on any donation, with the money despatched through the checking account of Mr Bortrick’s agency, Burke’s Peerage Ltd.

Last week, Mr Wynne-Parker claimed to have organized donations totalling £2 million from a Saudi businessman who had been invited to Dumfries House a number of instances.

He didn’t say whether or not the donor was Dr bin Mahfouz or if he had accepted any charges or fee.

A spokesman for Dr Bin Mahfouz final evening stated Mr Wynne-Parker had suggested the businessman till 2019 and been a trustee of his basis till 2017.

He insisted, nonetheless, that Mr Wynne-Parker had performed no function within the donation to Dumfries House, however had suggested him to give to the Castle of Mey project, though there was no price or fee for doing so.

‘Mr Wynne-Parker was a patron of the Castle of Mey before he met His Excellency and advised him to support that charity,’ the spokesman stated.

‘That led to His Excellency being invited to explore the work of Dumfries House. Mr Wynne-Parker was aware of, but not involved in, the process with Dumfries House.’

The affair is the newest vibrant chapter in Mr Wynne-Parker’s story of economic mishaps and misjudgments.

Once an aspiring politician, standing unsuccessfully as a Tory candidate in native elections in Norfolk, he was elected chairman of the Norwich Conservative candidate committee in August 1974.

He quickly grew to become a daily on the Monday Club, the Right-wing Westminster stress group aligned with the Conservative Party, and proved to be a masterful networker, ingratiating himself with influential businessmen, politicians and royalty.

He even as soon as launched Saif Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan chief Muammar Gaddafi, to Margaret Thatcher at a ebook launch.

It was by way of the Monday Club that Mr Wynne-Parker met Jonathan Guinness, a scion of the brewery and banking household and now a peer, Lord Moyne.

The pair labored collectively on a sequence of business ventures with Mr Wynne-Parker’s consultancy agency Introcom.

Reflecting on these ventures in his 2011 ebook If My Table Could Talk, Mr Wynne-Parker wrote: ‘Though we were not highly successful in financial terms, we had plenty of adventures.’

One project was an airline known as Tajik Air which bumped into monetary hassle and ceased working in 1994, regardless of a summit organized by Mr Wynne-Parker between the then Tajik Prime Minister Abdujalil Samadov and Mrs Thatcher.

The City of London fraud squad was reportedly known as in after complaints from collectors.

Mr Wynne-Parker stated on the time that Introcom had no monetary involvement, however had solely offered consultancy providers.

Undeterred, Mr Wynne-Parker and Lord Moyne launched Access To Justice which rented out office suites and gave free authorized recommendation to these looking for to overturn their convictions due to alleged miscarriages of justice.

It was claimed that the agency misrepresented itself as a charity and {that a} convicted fraudster was concerned in its operations.

Margaret Beckett, then the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, obtained a courtroom order to shut down the company within the public curiosity.

Both Mr Wynne-Parker and Lord Moyne have been banned from being company administrators for 5 years in 2000 due to their roles in Access To Justice.

It was not the primary time that Mr Wynne-Parker had been censured by the regulators.

Ten years earlier, his agency Wynne-Parker Financial Management had been shut down by monetary watchdogs.

He was discovered responsible on 16 counts of misconduct and fined £10,000 with a decide saying that it appeared the businessman had ‘the clear modus operandi of a crook’.

‘I’ve by no means been taught to do business in any respect,’ Mr Wynne-Parker stated in a 2003 interview. ‘I’m not the kind of chap who’s occupied with money.’

Mystery of the lacking £500,000: Prince Charles’ basis insists it returned Russian banker’s cash… however he says he would not have it

A former Russian banker who donated £500,000 to the Prince’s Foundation and anticipated to safe a visit to Dumfries House – solely to have the invitation withdrawn – has sensationally claimed that he hasn’t received the money again but.

The Mail on Sunday final week revealed that Dmitry Leus had cited the donation in his profitable application to the Home Office for British residency.

The financier had agreed the donation with Michael Wynne-Parker, a society fixer who had requested for the funds to be despatched to the Prince’s Foundation through a checking account held by Burke’s Peerage, the gentry information.

Burke’s Peerage denies dealing with any of the money.

The basis stated final week it now not had the cash and it had been returned ‘to source’ after questions have been raised by its ethics committee about Mr Leus’s suitability as a donor.

Former Russian banker Dmitry Leus (above) donated £500,000 to the Prince’s Foundation and anticipated to safe a visit to Dumfries House, however claims his supply was revoked and he by no means noticed his money returned

The charity didn’t say, nonetheless, to whom the money had been returned.

Lawyers for Mr Leus stated: ‘Our client made a donation to the Prince’s Foundation in good religion through Burke’s Peerage. Burke’s Peerage haven’t returned any of the money to him.’

They added: ‘It is up to Burke’s Peerage to clarify the place the funds have gone.’

The Mail on Sunday understands that one cost of £200,000 was despatched by Mr Leus’s spouse, Zhanna, on May 11, 2020, to Burke’s Peerage. A second financial institution switch of £300,000 was made on September 3, 2020.

A supply shut to Mr Leus stated there have been considerations that the complete £500,000 might not have ever reached the Prince’s Foundation as supposed.

In an additional twist, the Mahfouz Foundation, a charitable belief run by billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, yesterday claimed it was holding £300,000 of Mr Leus’s funds, and Mr Wynne-Parker, a former trustee of the Mahfouz Foundation, had the rest.

A spokesman for the inspiration stated: ‘The Mahfouz Foundation is holding £300,000 on behalf of Mr Leus and await instructions on that being returned. Mr Wynne-Parker is the trustee of Mr Leus and has the remaining £200,000.’

Informed of the event, Mr Leus’s legal professionals stated: ‘Our client had never heard of this organisation [the Mahfouz Foundation] until receiving an email from The Mail on Sunday.’

The thriller is yet one more perception into the unusual and generally murky world of the huge charity donations made by rich foreigners to the Royal charity.

In an e mail revealed by this newspaper final week, society fixer Mr Wynne-Parker outlined a scheme by which donors might meet the Prince of Wales for dinner and keep in a single day at Dumfries House.

Mr Wynne-Parker stated that after center males – himself included – had taken a 25 per cent reduce of the steered £100,000, the remaining can be funnelled by way of a checking account held by Burke’s Peerage.

Born in Turkmenistan, Mr Leus has Russian and Israeli citizenship, however entered Britain on a European Union passport from Cyprus.

He lives within the Knightsbridge space of London together with his spouse and their 4 sons. He was a European fencing champion aged 17 and stated in a current interview: ‘My business mindset was created in the gymnasiums and competition halls of my teenage years.’

He is the ‘indispensable’ aide about whom Prince Charles as soon as reportedly exclaimed: ‘I can manage without just about anyone, except for Michael.’

But as Michael Fawcett final evening ‘temporarily’ stepped down because the chief govt of The Prince’s Foundation, many will surprise if Charles’s right-hand man of 4 a long time can probably dodge the bullet once more.

The 58-year-old has been forced to resign twice earlier than – as soon as after being accused of bullying in 1998 and once more in 2003 when he was dubbed ‘Fawcett the Fence’ for promoting royal presents.

Then, his closeness to his grasp (he reportedly squeezed toothpaste onto the Prince’s toothbrush when Charles broke his arm taking part in polo) helped convey him again from the wilderness.

But who is the previous complete schoolboy with such a seemingly impenetrable maintain on our future King?

Born in Orpington, Kent, he arrived at Buckingham Palace aged 17 straight out of catering faculty.

A Former Royal aide who witnessed Fawcett’s exceptional rise by way of the ranks stated: ‘When he first arrived, he called himself Michael Buxton-Fawcett which sounded very grand.

‘We used to jokingly call him “Sir Michael”. He soon dropped Buxton, which was his mother’s maiden title.’