Playboy’s bizarre apology to Charles over ‘forged’ art

Stunt says sorry to his ‘friend’ after claims that paintings he loaned to prince are fakes

PLAYBOY tycoon James Stunt yesterday apologised to his ‘friend’ Prince Charles over astonishing allegations that a £50million Monet he loaned to the prince was a fake.

The bankrupt gold bullion dealer allegedly agreed to lend a number of artworks to the headquarters of the prince’s charity, including the ‘Monet’ and a ‘Picasso’ actually painted by a notorious American art forger.

A number of paintings have now been removed from public view at Dumfries House, near Cumnock, in Ayrshire, home of The Prince’s Foundation. Royal sources accept that their ‘authenticity’ has been placed ‘in doubt.’

The loan agreements were apparently signed by Michael Fawcett, Prince Charles’ former valet who is now chief executive of The Prince’s Foundation.

Mr Stunt, 37, took to social media to launch a video rant after news of the scandal emerged late on Saturday night, insisting he would not deceive the Prince of Wales because he has ‘the great fortune to call [him] a friend’.

During the video, which was posted on Instagram, Mr Stunt insisted the artworks were genuine but added: ‘Let’s say they were fake. What is the crime of lending them to a stately home, [to] the Prince of Wales and putting them on display for the public to enjoy?’

He added: ‘I give my huge apologies to the Prince of Wales.’

He also referred to ‘the people at Dumfries House’, saying: ‘We are very, very close, extremely close… and I would never ever do anything to deceive them.

‘All financial transactions have been benevolent because I support the Prince’s Trust [and] I support the Prince of Wales. He’s a great man. I consider him to be a friend.’

Mr Stunt loaned 17 artworks on a ten-year free lease to Dumfries House, according to documents seen by the Mail on Sunday.

However, art forger Tony Tetro claims that he in fact painted the Monet – insured for £50million – put on display at Dumfries House.

He told the Mail on Sunday: ‘You can impress your friends with my pictures, decorate your homes with them, but they would never pass expert scrutiny.’

Two other works which were on show – a £42million ‘Picasso’ and a £12million ‘Dali’ were also reported to be counterfeit by the Mail on Sunday.

The artworks were said to not be forgeries of known paintings but painted in the style of the artists.

The scandal threatened to deepen yesterday amid allegations that Mr Stunt also loaned artworks to the Palace of Westminster, including a portrait which is on display in the House of Lords.

Mr Stunt’s links to the prince are likely to raise eyebrows in Buckingham Palace owing to the flamboyant lifestyle of the businessman who is also the former husband of Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone.

Mr Stunt – who was declared bankrupt in June – once boasted of owning 200 supercars and having a £5million credit line in every major casino in London, Monaco, Las Vegas and Macau.

He says that he is the godson of Terry Adams, head of Britain’s most notorious crime family.

However, he has clearly treasured his relationship with the prince, framing letters that he has received from the palace and displaying them proudly in his office.

In an interview with Tatler magazine last year, Mr Stunt boasted of his work with The Prince’s Foundation and described Mr Fawcett as a ‘lovely man’.

He said he had loaned ‘works from the likes of Velazquez, Monet, van Dyck, Dali, Picasso and Constable’ over a two-year period.

However, Mr Tetro now claims three of the pieces hung in Dumfries House, including a ‘Monet’ of a waterlily scene, are his forgeries.

All 17 paintings loaned to Dumfries House are said to have been returned to Mr Stunt, however the tycoon said that he has not received any.

Mr Stunt said: ‘I have not had this art returned and even if these were fake and again, I’m not saying they are, what crime has been committed by a painting being put on a wall?’

Dumfries House accepts many artworks on loan from donors but does not market itself on them and as such the authenticity of the paintings is not verified.

Mr Tetro and Mr Stunt are said to have met at a car rally and embarked on a friendship.

The artist, who served a prison sentence for forgery in the 1990s, is later said to have sold Mr Stunt 11 artworks in the style of old masters.

A Prince’s Foundation spokesman said: ‘It is extremely regrettable that the authenticity of these particular paintings, which are no longer on display, now appears to be in doubt.’

Mr Tetro did not wish to comment further when approached by the Daily Mail yesterday. Mr Stunt could not be reached for comment.

‘What is the crime of lending them?’