Britain's Prince Charles would never again accept large cash donations for his charities, a royal official has said.
The Prince of Wales faced criticism after being presented with bundles of euro notes – reportedly totalling €3 million three and some of it in a suitcase and shopping bags – from a former Qatari prime minister between 2011 and 2015.
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, who was prime minister of Qatar between 2007 and 2013, gave the money to the heir to the British throne who deposited it in his Prince of Wales' Charitable Fund (PWCF), according to a report by The Sunday Times.
A royal aide insisted on Wednesday that the future king operates on advice and such incidents have not happened in the past half decade and would not happen again.
Campaign group Republic, which wants the British monarchy to be replaced by an elected head of state, had demanded full disclosure over the matter, describing the events as “shocking” and saying it raised “serious questions about Charles’s judgment” amid other accusations of cash-for-honours.
The royal aide told the Press Association news agency: “It was passed immediately to his charities and it was his charities who decided to accept the money – that is a decision for them.
“And they did so, and as they confirmed, it followed all the right processes, the auditors looked at it.
“The Prince of Wales operates on advice. Situations, contexts change over the years.”
The source added: “For more than half a decade, with the situation as it has evolved, this has not happened and it would not happen again.
“That is then and this is now.”
Clarence House, Charles' office, said the donations were “passed immediately” to one of the prince’s charities and that “appropriate governance” was carried out.
“Charitable donations received from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim were passed immediately to one of the prince’s charities who carried out the appropriate governance and have assured us that all the correct processes were followed,” a statement said.
According to The Sunday Times, a donation of €1 million was handed over during one meeting at the prince’s residence, Clarence House.
The charity, which was founded in 1979 with a mission to transform lives and build sustainable communities, awards grants to UK registered non-profit organisations to deliver projects in the UK, the Commonwealth and overseas.
It comes after police in London launched an investigation into an alleged cash-for-honours scandal in February after Charles and his former close confidant, Michael Fawcett, were reported over the claims.
Mr Fawcett was accused of promising to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for a Saudi billionaire donor to another of Charles’s charities, the Prince’s Foundation.
Clarence House said the prince had “no knowledge” of the alleged cash-for-honours scandal.
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Sand storm
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- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
