The Prince of Wales allegedly took delivery of a suitcase containing one million euros in cash from a former prime minister of Qatar. This was revealed by the Sunday Times, according to which the sum was one of the three cash donations destined for charitable works made by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim to Prince Charles, for a total of three million euros. The sheikh’s donations – Clarence House specified – were immediately transferred to one of the prince’s assistance bodies following all the necessary and correct procedures, we read on Sunday, where it is pointed out that there are no elements that suggest that the payments were illegal .
According to the Sunday Times, Prince Charles personally received the three donations from the former prime minister between 2011 and 2015. On one occasion, the money was allegedly handed over in a duffel bag during a meeting at Clarence House. In another, it would have been collected in shopping bags from Fortnum and Mason department stores.
The funds went to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, whose stated goal is to “transform lives and build sustainable communities” by awarding grants to various causes and projects in the areas of conservation, education, health and social inclusion. The Prince’s Charity Fund told the Sunday Times that its trustees concluded the donor was legitimate and the auditors approved the donation.
Donations to Prince Charles’ charities have come under scrutiny in recent months following allegations that one of these charities offered help to a Saudi donor to secure him an honor and British citizenship. The Met, the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, had announced at the beginning of the year that it is investigating these allegations under the Honors Act 1925. The foundation – the newspaper specifies – would be offering full cooperation while Clarence House assures that the prince Carlo was unaware of the alleged offer of honors or citizenship based on donations to his charities.