Prince Harry’s decision to take a public swipe at Prince Charlies about the donor at the heart of the ‘cash for access’ scandal now engulfing his father shows the relationship between father and son is now at ‘rock bottom’, royal experts told MailOnline today.
After he claimed he had “severed all ties” with Mahfouz Marei Mobarak bin Mahfouz one year prior to Prince Charles’ presentation of the controversial Saudi billionaire with an CBE, the Duke of Sussex is now at risk of another public spat with Prince William.
In recent months, Charles has come under fire for his relationships with Mr Mahfouz as well as the many thousands of pounds that the billionaire gave to royal projects through his charitable trust. Michael Fawcett, the prince’s top aide and senior adviser, was forced to quit as president of The Prince’s Foundation last week over his involvement in the scandal.
Harry made an astonishing statement last night claiming that he was not involved in the “CBE scandal”, but insisted that he did have concerns regarding the motivations of the Saudi businessman and that he expressed his concern about them.
After it became clear that the Duke of Sussex had met privately with Mr Mahfouz who gave tens to thousands of pounds in aid of charities associated with him, the Duke made these comments. The Duke of Sussex did not say if the money was returned or to whom he raised concerns.
According to royal watchers, the intervention shows that the father and son are still not at peace after Megxit or the bombshells dropped in March by the Sussexes during their Oprah interview.
Angela Levin wrote an article on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She told MailOnline that Harry’s relationship to his father was “rock bottom” for him but that it wasn’t for his deeply hurting father.
‘He [Harry]For his power to feel secure, Prince Charles has stopped feeding him money and seems to have to constantly attack his father.
‘If he felt so suspicious about Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, why didn’t he return the £50,000 to his African charity Sentebale and £10,000 to Walking With The Wounded, of which he was patron. At the time he must have had £30million in the bank that his mother left him.
“He hasn’t given us specifics when and to whom he warned concerning the billionaire’s credibility. He also hasn’t mentioned the date and who he shared it with. He also doesn’t mention that Meghan received the diamond earrings from a suspicious billionaire Saudi’.
She added: ‘It’s the same old thing from Harry and Meghan. Show compassion to all people you don’t even know. But I’m going to attack my entire family, and my father in particular.
Richard Fitzwilliams, commentator said Harry making his public statement will only ‘fuel speculation over the state of Harry’s relations with his father. This seems distant. Charles is embarrassed by the problems plaguing his charity foundation and Michael Fawcett’s resignation. We will also be observing the language used by Charles in his statement, which refers to the ‘CBE scandal’.
This episode reveals that what one would expect from the Royal Family is close collaboration between fathers and sons when statements have to be made in relation to sensitive issues like this. This is because Harry’s memoir will be out in the next year.
Left: The Duke of Sussex stated last night that he had cut ties with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak (right), one year before Prince Charles awarded the controversial Saudi billionaire a CBE
Harry made an unusual statement that could cause a family split. He said he was not involved in the “CBE scandal” and insisted he did have concerns over the motivations of the Saudi businessman.
Prince Charles (left) was criticized for his relationships with Mr Mahfouz in the recent months.
Fawcett is back at home, doing his OWN Christmas shopping in Homebase
Prince Charles’s former closest aide looks a far cry from his previous polished self on a Christmas shopping trip this weekend.
Michael Fawcett was seen for the first time since last month’s resignation from his position as Chief Executive of Prince’s Foundation.
On Saturday, the 59 years old stocked up at Richmond Homebase (west London) on wood and light supplies. He wore a black loose-fitting hoodie with jeans and trainers. Mr Fawcett stepped down following reports that he promised to secure a knighthood and British citizenship for Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who had given more than £1.5million to the Prince’s Foundation.
However, it is unclear if any sanctions will go against the ex-royal valet. Metropolitan Police has been investigating these claims.
Prince Charles reportedly stated that he would talk to detectives about allegations that an aide to him had made an honor for a billionaire from Saudi Arabia.
MailOnline spoke to Norman Baker, a former Liberal Democrat MP who had filed a criminal case about the matter. He said that: ‘The tide is lapping at Prince Charles’ door and his child can see it. Harry is protecting himself by telling his dad, “Don’t drag it into me.”
“If Charles speaks to police about this, he would likely reply: “I didn’t know any of it.” Harry may say that he did not know anything about it. Police might then ask him to clarify his statement, though that would be more difficult because he is living abroad. Mister Baker indicated that it would be very telling if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did so.
He said, “The police were reluctant to investigate Royal Family. They have done it with Andrew.
Peter Hunt, Royal Commentator added that Prince Charles had presented Mahfouz his CBE in 2016. What did Prince Harry say to him in 2015 about his worries?
“Just one question the Metropolitan Police could ask father or son, if they decide to investigate.”
Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz is embroiled in claims that he showered money on charitable causes close to the Prince of Wales in the hope of obtaining an honour and British citizenship.
Harry said that he became concerned about Mahfouz’s health in 2014. He ended their relationship after meeting him twice.
Independent investigation found that Fawcett was in league with Mahfouz’s ‘fixers’ to get a high honor in return for donations.
Mr Mahfouz is thought to have donated at least £1.5 million to royal charities.
According to The Duke of Sussex, the Duke expressed his concern over Mr Mahfouz’s 2015 decision to cut all ties with him. His statement didn’t make it clear who he expressed these concerns to.
Charles awarded the Saudi billionaire an honorary CBE during a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2012. Mister Mahfouz and the Prince of Wales also met privately in Scotland, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Clarence House said yesterday that Charles was unaware of the allegations about cash for access, but did not say whether Harry had raised concern with it regarding Mr Mahfouz.
Although initial investigations by the Metropolitan Police into Mr Fawcett have been made, no formal investigation has yet taken place.
Harry met Mahfouz for the first time in 2013. He was a guest at Mark Dyer’s pub in Chelsea.
After his year-long gap in Africa, the two discussed Sentebale charity. This was set up to assist people living in Botswana and Lesotho affected by Aids.
After Charles’s meeting with Mr Mahfouz in 2013, Charles and Harry met up again at Clarence House, according to the newspaper. Harry joked about his dad’s success that he had beaten him to it.
Michael Fawcett, the prince’s top aide (pictured), was forced to quit as The Prince’s Foundation’s head last month due to his involvement in the scandal. He was photographed on this weekend’s shopping trip
In February 2013, Mr Mahfouz donated £50,000 to Sentebale. Later that year he gave £10,000 to Walking With The Wounded, another charity of which Harry was patron.
Yesterday, a spokesperson for the Duke said that he had made a plan to meet with the donor in 2008, but did not present him to the Royal Family. He also expressed concern about the donor’s health.
Scottish charity regulator is investigating Prince’s Foundation over allegations that it received a six-figure amount from a Russian donor. The ethics committee later rejected the investigation. The foundation commissioned an independent investigation to investigate the allegations of cash for access. It found that there was ‘evidence’ of co-ordination between Mr Fawcett, and his fixers about honorary nominations.
After the March tell-all interview by Oprah Winfrey, Harry and his father fell apart. After Meghan and Harry announced their move to America, the Duke claimed that his father had financially cut him off and caused a lot more hurt.
It is believed that they have reconnected in recent months after last speaking in person at Prince Philip’s funeral in April.
Sentebale explained that patrons can meet donors who are dependent on their support. This includes the two donations received in 2013-14 from the Mahfouz Foundation – donations that we would not have accepted if we believed there was anything improper behind them.’
Harry throws his father under the bus
By Rebecca English
The Prince of Wales is complex in his relationship with his sons, it is true.
Both William and Harry have historically accused Charles of being a ‘laissez-faire’ father – one more preoccupied with weighty affairs of state and his considerable philanthropic legacy than bathtime, wrestling matches and bedtime stories.
Of course, it’s not fair. The reality when it comes to the Royal Family – as with any family – is always more complicated.
Charles, like other royals was deeply hurt by Harry’s and Meghan’s painful exit from their family in 2020.
Still, as Harry and William’s relationship descended into acrimony, their father tried to remain a non-partisan figure – partly because Charles has always shied away from personal confrontation with his sons, but also because he genuinely wanted to retain a Swiss-like neutrality between them.
While it is disappointing, the Los Angeles-based statement by the prince’s spokesman effectively throws his father under the bus over the cash for honors’ investigation was not surprising. Yesterday’s comment was made after Harry was exposed by a newspaper for his links to Mahfouz Marei Mubarak Bin Mahfouz. It was meant to highlight the young prince’s ability to see ahead. It glossed over Harry’s private meeting with Mahfouz in a close friend’s pub in Chelsea – and a subsequent encounter at Clarence House where he was said to have joked: ‘Has father beaten me to it and got the money?’
There is collective responsibility, just as at Cabinet Level, within the Royal Family. Protect your position by any means necessary, but not at your expense.
Harry’s statement, however, was liberally sprinkled with digs at his father – the reference to ‘the CBE scandal’, for example. Then there was the suggestion that the younger prince and his advisers saw sense at the earliest possible opportunity, when Charles’ former senior aide Michael Fawcett – and presumably the Prince of Wales himself – did not.
The claim that Harry “expressed his concerns” about the donor? Well, who knows. Without a doubt, no member of his father’s family can recall anything about it.
Charles was unaware, at least until last weekend, that Mahfouz had been with him in London. He even encouraged Charles’ charity to take any money from Mahfouz.
Harry could surely have warned his father if he was so concerned about the Saudi billionaire. Perhaps he did when Harry saw him in London that day.
It was also no secret, subsequently, that Mahfouz had become a major donor to Charles’ charitable endeavours – he had a wood named after him at Dumfries House, the Scottish seat of his charitable empire, after all.
Clarence House maintained a calm and dignified silence last evening, contrary to the claims made by the BBC in its recent documentary about royals.
But one loyal friend of the Prince of Wales felt obliged to ask: ‘If Harry indeed had such deep concern about this man and his ‘motives’, then why on earth did he not tell his charity, Sentebale, to just hand the £50,000 he had given them back?’