Following Michael Fawcett’s resignation, the Prince’s Foundation has hired a woman to replace him. She is described as a mother-of-2 and a “safe pair of hands”.
Emily Anne Cherrington, 38, has been acting chief executive of the Dumfries House-based organisation since Mr Fawcett temporarily stepped down in early September.
This comes following reports that Charles’s ex valet, Mr Fawcett, offered to assist a billionaire Saudi donor for the prince’s charity to obtain a knighthood as well as British citizenship.
Mrs Cherrington has been married to James for over 30 years. They have a son, James and a girl.
Since May 2017, she has worked with the charity as a senior deputy executive director, and was then appointed COO in January 2020.
Sources at the Prince’s Foundation said she was a’safe pair’ of hands and that MailOnline would “continue” in her current role, while an investigation takes place.
After Mr Fawcett (59), Charles’s right-handman, quit dramatically last night in protest at the ‘cash-for-honours’ inquiry, this confirmation is confirmed.
Emily Anne Cherrington is 38 and the Prince’s Foundation’s acting chief executive.
Right, Michael Fawcett in 2019, was seen by Prince Charles as the man he couldn’t live without
According to The Daily Mail, Mr Fawcett does not intend to preempt an investigation by the authorities into these claims. This has yet to be reported back.
Ms. Cherrington, however, has assumed the responsibilities of Mr Fawcett at the London-based company during the probe.
Her mother was born in Kirkby Underwood, Lincolnshire near Bourne.
The resignation comes at a time when Mr Fawcett, chief executive of The Prince’s Foundation has been resigned. His friends said that he was ‘heartbroken’ as well as’shattered’ from recent events.
Fawcett rose to be one of the most influential and powerful figures at the court of the future King. He was also forced to end his private contract with Charles to organize events.
According to friends, the scandal had an ‘unsettling’ impact on Mr Fawcett and it is only now that he feels well enough for him to take a decision regarding his future.
A friend stated that Michael had resigned, and would never return. He is now a shadow to his former self and has lost 5 stone.
According to a spokesperson for The Prince’s Foundation, Michael Fawcett has resigned as the CEO of The Prince’s Foundation.
Clarence House stated to the Mail that they were cutting all ties with Mr Fawcett and would no longer work with Premier Mode Events, his event company. Thus, ending his tragic fall from grace.
The spokesman stated that Premier Mode and Michael Fawcett would not continue to provide services to the company in the future. These arrangements will be ended, as we have all agreed.
Charles was a man Charles could never live without for the better part of forty-eight decades.
He became embroiled in controversy, and was once forced to resign twice after being accused for bullying employees and selling royally inappropriate gifts.
He was later reinstated on both occasions and Premier Mode received a lucrative contract to manage most of the Prince’s official and personal entertaining.
In 2007, Mr Fawcett was made chief executive of Scotland’s Dumfries House, a stately home Charles helped save for the nation which has since been turned into a community facility and hub for his considerable charitable activities.
In 2018, following a reorganisation of those charities, Mr Fawcett was appointed as £95,000-a-year chief executive of the newly created The Prince’s Foundation, much to the surprise – and concern – of some current and former household staff.
Mr Fawcett set about becoming a ‘fundraiser extraordinaire’, raising millions to support the prince’s philanthropic work every year.
But it was his successes in securing multi-million-pound contributions that led to his demise.
This autumn, there were questions raised regarding Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz the Saudi billionaire. Charles personally awarded him an honorary CBE in 2016.
Michael Fawcett (59), is seen outside of his South West London home on Sunday
He had donated £1.5 million, spent mostly on renovating two of Charles’s Scottish properties, where parts of the grounds are named after him. He allegedly paid thousands of dollars to fixers who were connected to Prince Charles and claimed that they would secure him an honor. Mahfouz has denied all wrongdoing.
Significantly, a letter emerged which Mr Fawcett wrote to Mr Mahfouz in 2017, in which he said: ‘In light of the ongoing and most recent generosity of His Excellency Sheikh Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, 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 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.’ Sources said Prince Charles was not aware of any link between donations to the foundation and honours and was ‘deeply shocked’.
The Prince’s Foundation said it took the allegations seriously and immediately ordered an investigation.
Mr Fawcett announced he would ‘temporarily’ step down from his post while the matter was probed. Fawcett has made that decision to keep the post permanent even after all of the evidence is revealed.
A friend said that despite his ‘many mis-steps’ over the years, Mr Fawcett had been a ‘loyal and faithful servant’ to the prince and had played a crucial role in his philanthropic efforts, helping Charles to raise more than £120 million for charity each year.
In 2016, Charles was awarded an honorary CBE to Mahfouz Marei Mubarak, a billionaire from Saudi Arabia.
Some royal insiders have questioned how the heir to the throne will manage to keep his charitable ventures – including Dumfries House – afloat without Mr Fawcett to ‘rattle the cans’.
A source said: ‘Michael will have no more dealings with either His Royal Highness or Clarence House from now on. It is very clear. He’s not coming back in any way, shape or form, that cannot be stressed enough.
‘The report hasn’t been finished yet. This is his and only decision. He isn’t pre-empting any possibility of finding it.
‘This really is the earliest he has felt able to make any sort of decision about his future.’
The friend said the pressure of the scandal had had a ‘shattering effect’ on Mr Fawcett’s health. ‘Michael isn’t a well man – he has lost lots of weight and has shrunken into himself. No one is seeking sympathy, it’s a fact. This broke him.
According to a friend, even though he had made’many errors’ throughout his life, Mr Fawcett was loyal and faithful and played a key role in the prince’s philanthropic initiatives. Pictured: Mr Fawcett and the Prince of Wales, Lord Thurso on a 2019 tour
‘He has made this decision because he needs time to get through this crisis. And he wants more than anything to be left alone while he goes through this difficult time.’
Mr Fawcett’s departure will be seen by his enemies – who viewed him as a pernicious influence on the royal household – as long overdue. And it will certainly provide the Prince of Wales with a ‘clean sheet’ when he becomes king.
Some feared Mr Fawcett might be elevated to Master of the Household at Buckingham Palace at this stage.
According to some, the Duchess is not upset by him seeing his back. Although she was once supportive of Mr Fawcett, now she feels that her husband has the ability to start a new chapter.
The Prince of Wales is said to have been told about Mr Fawcett’s decision, which will be made public by officials today. He feels ‘sadness’ about the way things have ended, but accepts it.
As well as The Prince’s Foundation own investigation, Scotland’s charity regulator is investigating further allegations regarding donations to the foundation.
A Clarence House spokesman said previously: ‘The Prince of Wales fully supports the investigation now under way at the foundation.’