King urged to speak out over cash for honours row

THE King is under growing pressure to make a public statement over the alleged cash-for-honours scandal at one of his charities.

Former crime minister Norman Baker said Charles could no longer ‘hide behind his flunkeys’ as it emerged prosecutors could decide on possible criminal charges next month.

Michael Fawcett, 59, the King’s former valet, quit as head of The Prince’s Foundation last year when the first allegations emerged. He is accused of helping to fix a CBE for Saudi tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz after he gave more than £1.5million to royal causes.

Charles presented the honour at a private investiture at Buckingham Palace. Mr Fawcett, the King’s longest serving aide, then wrote to the Saudi donor in 2017 and allegedly offered help to upgrade his CBE to a knighthood and to support his application for British citizenship.

The King, 74, has not been spoken to by detectives or given a statement.

He is protected by ‘sovereign immunity’ from being compelled to give evidence in court.

Mr Baker, a republican who has written a book on royal finances, said: ‘We now need a clear statement from Charles himself who needs to man up and not hide behind his flunkeys.

‘Charles has shown an unwise and unhealthy tendency to accept money for his good causes from anybody and anyhow without it seems ever asking what the price is.’

Scotland Yard opened an investigation into potential offences under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 following a complaint from Mr Baker.

The Palace made no comment. Mr Fawcett and Mr Mahfouz have also made no comment.

‘Unwise tendency to accept money’