King Charles’ former aide Michael Fawcett exposed royal charity to ‘substantial risk’, inquiry finds

The King’s former closest aide, Michael Fawcett, exposed Charles’ scandal-linked charitable foundation to ‘substantial risk’, a regulator found yesterday.

A report by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) found Charles’ former valet was appointed to run the then-Prince’s Foundation with no job description or formal responsibilities.

The watchdog inquiry was launched amid reports of a cash-for-honours scandal at the operation, now known as the King’s Foundation.

It found Mr Fawcett’s actions did not amount to misconduct, and said there was no evidence of misconduct by current or former trustees.

But it raised questions over governance at the charity during Mr Fawcett’s time as its chief executive officer and its report suggested Mr Fawcett was effectively given a carte blanche when he was appointed.

He resigned from the role in 2021 after a letter, first published in The Mail on Sunday, revealed he had offered to help a wealthy Saudi donor obtain a knighthood and British citizenship.

An internal investigation by the charity found he had co-ordinated with fixers over honours nominations for Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who was awarded an honorary CBE by Charles, in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2016. Mr Mahfouz has denied any wrongdoing.

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the cash-for-honours claims and two men were questioned under caution but the force announced in 2023 that it would take no further action.

Michael Fawcett pictured with King Charles in 1990, when he was a prince, at Sandringham

The OSCR inquiry examined whether former trustees at the charity had ‘previous concerns’ about Mr Fawcett’s conduct.

It criticised his ‘unacceptable’ conduct over a failure to insure a collection of artworks which was loaned to the charity, said to be worth more than £100million.

James Stunt, the ex-husband of heiress Petra Ecclestone, reportedly loaned 17 masterpieces – including works by Monet, Picasso and Salvador Dali – to the foundation to display at its headquarters, Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland.

The OSCR report said it was not clear if Mr Fawcett had known the insurance had lapsed, but said: ‘In relation to the charity’s former CEO, the inquiry found that some of his actions resulted in the charity being exposed to substantial risk.

‘It was unacceptable that he did not brief the charity trustees on some of these serious issues as soon as they arose. By not doing so the former charity trustees’ ability to react to the risk faced by the charity was hindered.

‘Based on all the information gathered, OSCR does not consider that there was misconduct on the part of the former CEO.’

It questioned whether the charity had exercised appropriate oversight and management over Mr Fawcett, and noted: ‘The charity advised the inquiry that no job description existed for the former CEO and that there was no scheme of delegation setting out his responsibilities.’

Mr Fawcett, a former senior valet to Charles, had twice previously been forced to resign over scandals, including claims of bullying and selling on unwanted royal gifts.

The watchdog inquiry found Mr Fawcett’s (pictured in 2018) actions did not amount to misconduct, and said there was no evidence of misconduct by current or former trustees

A report by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) found Charles’ (pictured last month) former valet was appointed to run the then-Prince’s Foundation with no job description or formal responsibilities

But he continued to work as a freelance fixer and events manager for the prince, who was said to rely on him ‘completely’ and to have famously remarked he ‘could manage without just about anyone, except for Michael’.

The King’s Foundation, renamed after Charles’s accession, aims to ‘advocate for the change His Majesty wants to see in the world’ and has recently attracted a growing number of celebrity ambassadors including David Beckham and Sienna Miller.

It offers workshops and courses to promote heritage and endangered skills, and also focuses on sustainability, farming and agriculture, health and wellbeing, and architecture and urbanism.

In a statement, the foundation said: ‘The findings of this report into historic activity at the organisation have been noted by The King’s Foundation.

‘As the report acknowledges, the OSCR is satisfied with the improvements made by The King’s Foundation in recent years, including the introduction of new and robust governance practices.

‘Following the conclusion of OSCR’s investigation, we look forward to furthering the impact of our charitable work and achievements as we enter the new year.’