“I can manage without just about anyone except Michael” is what Prince Charles said about his former senior valet Michael Fawcett. But the royal helper did move on to eventually run the Prince’s Foundation, an umbrella group for the charities set up by Charles to promote the preservation of heritage buildings, among other things. But yesterday, Fawcett stepped aside while an investigation is carried out into claims he helped secure a Queen’s honour for a major donor. Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz received an Order of the British Empire in 2016 after the Saudi businessman donated more than £1.5 million to royal charities. Adding to the mystery was the revelation that the gong was given to Mahfouz in a private ceremony. It’s another cloud over the royals following sexual abuse claims levelled at Prince Andrew and legal action coming down the line.

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