Michael Fawcett
Michael Fawcett | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1962 (age 62) |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse | Debbie Fawcett |
| Children | 2 |
Michael David Fawcett MVO (born 6 November 1962)[1] is a former senior valet to Charles, Prince of Wales who today consults on various royal projects.
Career
[edit]Royal household
[edit]Fawcett began his service to the British royal family in 1981 as a footman to Queen Elizabeth II. He later became first sergeant footman and eventually moved to the Household of the Prince of Wales.[2] Fawcett rose to become Prince Charles's assistant valet. In 1998, various staff complained about his bullying, after which he resigned, but within a week he was reinstated and promoted.[3] Former royal press officer Dickie Arbiter remarked of Fawcett, "Fawcett has been there for so many years, so close in times of stress, that he knows all the ins and outs and all the warts."[3] This has been contrasted with biographies such as Behind Palace Doors where Major Colin Burgess pondered why Fawcett has been able to exert influence in royal circles to the degree he has with little formal education or professional experience.[citation needed]
Prince Charles' denial of unspecified banned allegation
[edit]In 2003, Fawcett received an injunction against The Mail on Sunday, banning them from writing about an unspecified allegation. A few days later, Prince Charles issued a statement, asserting that the unspecified banned allegation was untrue.[4]
Fawcett resigned from his position in Prince Charles's inner circle in March 2003, following a report by Sir Michael Peat that identified mismanagement at Clarence House.[3] The Peat inquiry found that Fawcett had accepted "numerous gifts in the course of his royal service", but cleared him of any financial impropriety.[3] After resigning, Fawcett continued to work for Charles on a freelance basis as a fixer and party planner.[3]
Cash-for-honours allegations
[edit]In September 2021, The Sunday Times and The Mail on Sunday newspapers reported that Michael Fawcett had fixed a CBE for Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz who donated more than £1.5 million to royal charities. The disclosures prompted a criminal complaint under section 1 of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. The activity was also said to be covered by the Bribery Act 2010.[5] Prince Charles gave Mahfouz his Honorary CBE at a private ceremony in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in November 2016,[6] though the event was not published in the Court Circular.[7] The Mail on Sunday reported that Fawcett wrote in a 2017 letter to Mahfouz's aide:
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 honor from Honorary CBE to that of KBE in accordance with Her Majesty's Honours Committee. 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.[8]
In response former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker wrote to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick urging a police inquiry.[9] Michael Wynne-Parker allegedly acted as a middle man in the affair. Wynne-Parker maintains he went into Clarence House by a rear entrance and discussed the honour with Fawcett and William Bortrick. Six months later Mahfouz got the honour. Wynne-Parker said, "It was amazing. I was shocked when I suddenly saw the reality later. They acted very quickly, as always is usual with Fawcett. I wasn't surprised in one sense because of what seemed like Fawcett's magical powers." An independent investigation arranged by the Prince's Trust found evidence that Fawcett and others co-ordinated over honours nominations.[10]
In November 2021, Fawcett resigned from his role as Chief Executive of The Prince's Foundation, receiving a £60,000 payoff.[11][12] The auditing firm EY, which was hired by the charity to carry out an investigation, published a summary report in December 2021, stating that Fawcett had co-ordinated with "fixers", but there was "no evidence that trustees at the time were aware of these communications".[13]
In February 2022 the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the cash-for-honours allegations linked to Charles' charity The Prince's Foundation.[14][15] In August 2022, The Sunday Times reported that Fawcett had not yet been interviewed by the police.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Fawcett married former royal housemaid, Debbie, in the early 1990s. The couple have a daughter and a son.[3]
Honours
[edit]- He was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in the 2001 New Years Honours List.
- As a senior employee of the Royal Household, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
References
[edit]- ^ "Michael David FAWCETT". Companies House. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Michael Fawcett: Charles' former aide steps down over honour claims". BBC News. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Michael Fawcett: Trusted aide". BBC News. 2003-11-07. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Timeline: Royal troubles BBC News, 7 November 2003
- ^ "Prince Charles's aide steps down following claims he offered to help secure an honour for rich Saudi donor". Sky News. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "A thank-you letter and gift from Prince Charles for the Saudi billionaire in 'cash for honours' CBE scandal". The Times. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Prince Charles aides fixed CBE for Saudi tycoon who gave £1.5m". The Times. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Prince Charles aide steps down amid probe into claims he helped Saudi tycoon donor secure CBE". The Independent. 5 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ Davies, Caroline (6 September 2021). "Former minister urges police inquiry into CBE for Saudi businessman". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Ungoed-Thomas, Jon (20 February 2022). "Fixer tells of meeting with Prince Charles's aide to discuss Saudi honour". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ Moloney, Charlie. "Prince's Charles's top aide Michael Fawcett quits charity amid honours inquiry". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
- ^ "King's former aide received £60,000 payoff when he quit Prince's Foundation". the Guardian. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
- ^ Ricketts, Andy (3 December 2021). "Former Prince's Foundation chief 'co-ordinated with fixers' over honours for donor, probe finds". Third Sector. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ @metpoliceuk (16 February 2022). "We have launched an investigation into allegations of offences under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. Decision follows an assessment of a Sep 2021 letter, related to media reporting alleging offers of help made to secure honours and citizenship for a Saudi national" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Breaking: Met Police investigate cash-for-honours allegations against Prince Charles' charity". City A.M. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ Gadher, Dipesh (7 August 2022). "Met still hasn't questioned Michael Fawcett a year on from 'cash for honours'". The Times. Retrieved 10 August 2022.