Wills and Harry charities ‘ broke the rules over cash transfers’
Anti-monarchist campaign group Republic also claims Harry and Meghan’s Sussex Royal foundation may have breached guidelines.
It says the foundation handed charity cash to another of Harry’s ‘pet projects’ – the eco-friendly tourism initiative Travalyst – which has been registered as a limited company.
The Charity Commission confirmed last night that it had received a complaint, although it could not confirm who had lodged it. It said it was assessing whether it was ‘appropriate to investigate’.
William, Kate, Harry and Meghan initially joined forces in the Royal Foundation. But when Harry and Meghan separated their household from Kensington Palace, they set up their own charitable foundation, Sussex Royal.
Several weeks ago it emerged that William and Kate’s new Royal Foundation had agreed, as part of a settlement with Sussex Royal, to grant it £145,000 to cover the costs of its set-up.
A further £100,000 was handed over for the development of Travalyst, which was registered as a limited company with Companies House in April, with Harry holding at least 75 per cent of its shares.
Since quitting royal duties, Harry and Meghan have chosen to wind up Sussex Royal, which will be replaced by Archewell, an American non-profit organisation. It has been reported that its remaining funds have been transferred to Travalyst.
Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, claims the transfers amount to a conflict of interests.
In a letter to the commission,
‘Failing to act in their duty’
Republic campaigner Graham Smith wrote: ‘These two charities appear to be in breach of guidelines regarding the proper use of charitable funds and may be failing in their duty to act independently and solely in the interests of their objectives.’
of two grants given by the
Royal Foundation to the Sussexes’ projects, he said: ‘In both instances it appears the only rationale for the decision was the personal relationship between two patrons, the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge.
‘The main objective of the grants appears to be supporting a patron’s brother rather than the Royal Foundation’s objectives (in the first instance) and supporting a trustee’s own pet project (in the second instance).’
The Charity Commission said last night: ‘We have received a complaint on this issue.
‘We will assess the information provided to determine whether or not there is a role for the Commission. We have not made any determination of wrongdoing.’ A spokesman for the Royal Foundation denied any wrongdoing, saying: ‘The grants made to Sussex Royal were to support the charitable work of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They were fully in line with governance requirements and were reported transparently.’
Sources said the Royal Foundation paid two grants to Sussex Royal at the point when it was going to be the primary philanthropic vehicle of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The decision was taken by the Royal Foundation’s board of trustees and was noted in its annual report.
A spokesman for Harry and Meghan did not respond to the Mail’s requests for comment.