Prince Harry rates cash for honors in row over central bank Charles Foundation scandal

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The Duke of Sussex has described the cash-for-honor dispute that has engulfed the Prince Charles Foundation as a “Central Bank of Egypt scandal” and has distanced himself from the hype.

A statement issued on Sunday said the prince had “raised concerns about” and “severed ties” with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who received a knighthood and British citizenship after making huge donations to the prince’s foundation.

This followed a report that claimed Prince Harry had a private meeting with Mr Mahfouz in 2013, shortly after he donated £50,000 to his charity, Sentebal. The meeting reportedly took place at a pub in Chelsea, west London, owned by Mark Dyer, a former royal knight and childhood tutor to the Prince.

Prince Harry was also photographed with Mr Mahfouz’s teenage sons at the Beaufort Polo Club in the Cotswolds, and was said to have had a second meeting at Clarence House in 2014.

A statement issued on behalf of the Duke said: “The Duke and his advisors, as well as the non-profit Sentebale, cut ties with Mr Mahfouz and associates in 2015, no longer accepting further donations to Sentebale and halting any plans for a fundraising event amid growing concerns about the motives for his support.” .

‘Aides are said to have concerns’

The Sunday Times reported that in 2012, a royal broker was told that Mahfouz had agreed to give the money to Sentebale, but his family wanted to know “exactly what they would get for it”.

His advisers were said to have brought up ideas including a private meeting with the Duke, tickets to see a rugby or soccer match in a royal box with him and a joint “educational tour” of Lesotho.

Within 48 hours, the broker reportedly announced that such opportunities would be “arranged at an early and joint convenience” and under the supervision of Mr. Dyer, one of Sentebale’s trustees.

In 2014, Mr. Dyer and Ed Lane Fox, the Duke’s private secretary, allegedly agreed to hold a banquet for Mr. Mahfouz to encourage further donations. It is alleged that Mahfouz wanted to conduct an auction, which goes against royal protocol.

However, aides are said to have expressed concerns about Mr. Mahfouz’s motives and that the banquet never took place.

The Duke’s statement added: “It is disappointing that the Sunday Times, knowing all the facts, chose to encourage speculation by being deliberately vague in an attempt to create a false link between the Duke of Sussex and the CBE scandal, with which he had nothing to do with.” knowledge or participation.

“The Duke had planned a one-on-one meeting with this donor nearly eight years ago, had not introduced it to any of the royals, and had expressed concerns about the donor.”

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