The Prince of Wales received bags of millions of euros in cash during meetings with a senior Qatari politician, according to a report.
Prince Charles is said to have received a total of 3 million euros (2.6 million pounds) during meetings with Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jaber Al-Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar.
The money was handed over to the heir to the British throne in a suitcase once, in a trunk on another occasion, and in carrying bags at Fortnum & Mason, the luxury department store that holds a royal order to supply the prince’s household. groceries.
The broadcast is believed to have taken place during meetings between the two men, including a private one-on-one meeting at Clarence House in 2015, it is alleged.
A spokesman for Clarence House said in a statement that the money given during the 2015 meeting was “immediately handed over to one of the prince’s charities, which fulfilled the relevant contracts and assured us that all proper processes had been followed.”
The suitcase with the money was given to two of Charles’s advisers, who are said to have counted the money by hand. Palace officials are said to have asked Coutts, the private bank acting on behalf of the royal family, to raise the money.
Each payment was deposited in the accounts of the Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation (PWCF). There is no suspicion that the payments were illegal, the Sunday Times reported today.
The sheikh, one of the richest people in the world, has been dubbed the “man who bought London” after using his wealth as well as his influence on the Qatari wealth fund to make huge investments in London, including Shard, Harrods and InterContinental London Park Lane. He owns one of the richest football clubs in the world, Paris Saint-Germain.
There is no evidence that the sheikh did not intend the money to go to the charity and Hamad was not available for comment, it was reported.
The chairman of the charity’s trustees confirmed to the newspaper that the donation for 2015 was made and then the trustees, who have a legal obligation to protect the charity’s reputation, “discussed the management and relationship with the donors (confirming that the donor is legitimate and verified contractor) and our auditors signed the donation following a specific request during the audit. There was no failure of the government. “
The charity is said to have confirmed that the donation for 2015 was made in cash at the “donor’s choice”.
Charles and Hamad are said to have been in a relationship for several decades. In 2010, Charles allegedly lobbied Hamad to postpone the reconstruction of London’s Chelsea barracks worth 3 billion pounds, writing a letter in which he told the then prime minister that the proposed steel and glass design of Qtari Diar, backed by the state, “made my heart sink.” Charles later met with the Emir of Qatar for tea at Clarence House, where the topic was raised again. Qatar subsequently withdrew plans, prompting the Candy brothers, who were monitoring the development, to start a £ 81 million lawsuit. In it, they accused Qatar of retreating from the prince’s demands.
The latest allegations come at an awkward time for the prince. Clarence House has denied allegations of an “money for access” culture in his organization, with the Sofia Police and Charity Commission investigating fundraising practices, including the sale of awards. Charles’ closest confidant, Michael Fawcett, is said to have secured the honor of a Saudi billionaire.
Fawcett resigned his position in Charles’ inner circle in March 2003 after a report by Sir Michael Pete found mismanagement at Clarence House. Peat’s investigation found that Fawcett had accepted “numerous gifts in the course of his royal service,” but cleared him of any financial wrongdoing. Fawcett continues to work for Charles as a freelancer as a fixer and party organizer.
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