Prince Charles has jeopardised his reign. amoneyccepting

To those saying its just how its done in the Middle East. I wouldn't know.

Its not how its done here. That's not dissing the Middle East, its explaining our laws.

And our future Head of State should know that.

An embarrassed acceptance the first time and someone explaining to the donor that we can't do this again. That's one thing. But three times? Over a period of years? Really? Do they take us for fools?

I understand that cash was immediately passed to charity so really see no issue with it..

Parsley3

I don’t think I want a man who happily accepts large cash donations from anyone to be my Head Of State. Clarence House has confirmed that this has taken place and I would hope that part of the correct processes ruled out the prospect of money laundering.

No he is not stupid enough. He is arrogant enough to think it is acceptable and no one will find out. It is not about where the money went it is about where it can from. Why cash? I saw someone being interviewed about this at the weekend. I am not sure who he was I didn't catch his name but I will try and find out but he saud something like the British are known all over the world for dong anything if they are paid for it like honours nighthoods etc. I am not suggesting he was taking the money for himself or ever has it just seems to make him feel important or something and does his ego good and these people who he sells the knighthoods etc to are ridiculous because it only a new name to add to their lost like the royal family fo with all their titles and nedals

Germanshepherdsmum

My husband has done quite a lot of business in the Middle East. He says its perfectly normal there for business to be done in cash and suitcases full of money wouldn’t cause eyebrows to be raised.
How ‘strange’ that this has been stirred up now, years later.

He has learned to deal with all sorts of cultures and this one, as you say, lives by different mores to ours. He has been "treated" to worse gifts so a donation to his charity must have been a nice change. There is no evidence of wrongdoing but our comic press still thinks if the bread is a bit on the thin side then we need circuses.

I wonder if this would have been better in "Chat" with all the others of its type. I, and I guess others, will give a wide berth to those, just as some do with the politics threads.

I want to think well of him but...!!! I provided my DD with a house deposit. Had to provide fully documented proof of the origins of all the savings going back something like 30 - 40 years. And this was just small money very slowly put away and interest added. I'm dumbfounded that he (and his advisers/minders) somehow don't have any idea that we have money laundering laws.

Thanks for the link Maizie. It seems he is an interesting man, and by no means whiter than white with regard to money.
Good post Grany.

Not just Republic Grany.

Letter to the charity commission

The letter sets out a number of questions Republic believes need to be answered, including:

While the charity knows that the donation came from Sheikh Hamad, do they (and how can they) know where the money originated?
How can the charity be satisfied that they are not being used for the purposes of money laundering, given the lack of transparency about the origin of the cash?
Given Prince Charles, Michael Fawcett and the Prince’s Foundation are being investigated regarding the apparent promise of honours in exchange for charitable donations, can the charity be sure that similar promises haven’t been made in connection with these or other donations?
Has the charity confirmed that no other large cash donations have been offered or accepted?
You’ll be aware that Sheikh Hamad is a former prime minister of Qatar, a country with a dreadful record on human rights and democracy. Is the Commission satisfied that the donations in question do not damage the reputation of the charity and the wider charity sector?
The Sunday Times report quoted one trustee as saying they were not aware of the donations, despite the legal obligation of trustees to ensure good financial management of the charity and to protect the charity’s reputation. This raises questions about the charity’s practices and the relationship between the charity and Prince Charles. Charities are required to be independent, with trustees being responsible for their governance and financial probity. Charles is neither a trustee nor an employee of the charity, yet appears to be able to facilitate a questionable donation without the knowledge of at least one of their seven trustees.
The report also says the charity provides funds for the upkeep of one of Charles’s estates in Scotland. This raises obvious questions about conflict of interest and personal gain by Charles and why the charity is spending its money on someone’s private estate.
The letter calls on the Charity Commission to discharge its duties in this case just as they would with any other charity, without fear or favour and with no concern for the charity’s connections to Prince Charles.

LuckyGirl13 try being a Duchy tenant or live near Duchy lands to experience true hypocrisy.

People thinking that Charles is a paragon of virtue when it comes to behaving with probity - well not this "people"!!!

His behaviour towards Diana lacked probity, decency, human kindness.... - you name it! I have no time for him.

My husband has done quite a lot of business in the Middle East. He says its perfectly normal there for business to be done in cash and suitcases full of money wouldn’t cause eyebrows to be raised.
How ‘strange’ that this has been stirred up now, years later.

Anniebach

Is Charles into football ?

Prince William is. He joined in supporting England’s bid to host the World Cup with David Beckham and I believe David Cameron. William is a life long supporter of Aston Villa and he became President of the FA in 2008 taking over from Prince Andrew.

Is Charles into football ?

Anniebach

Why has this hit the headlines after 11 years and 7 years

1. The Queen has failing health

2. Boris is in manure

3. Qatar are hosting the Football World Cup in November/December this year.

This was approved by FIFA in 2010. At the time Qatar we’re accused of bribing FIFA officials to the tune of £3million, but we’re cleared after a 2 year investigation.

Alternatively...

Why have we never been told about this before...?

Why has this hit the headlines after 11 years and 7 years

1. The Queen has failing health

2. Boris is in manure

maddyone

The toothpaste story is a red herring. We need to be worried about why the money was given. It doesn’t matter what kind of a bag it was in. It matters that it was given at all.

In which case, you need to investigate Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. to see if he appears to have gained any advantage from it.

Here's the wikipedia page about him for starters.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_bin_Jassim_bin_Jaber_Al_Thani

The toothpaste story is a red herring. We need to be worried about why the money was given. It doesn’t matter what kind of a bag it was in. It matters that it was given at all.

The toothpaste story has some truth, it was done when Charles
broke his arm

The problem isn’t Prince Charles, the problem is where the money came from, who gave it, and the big question, why? Why would those who rule over a culture that executes and exploits their own population care a jot about the good works of Prince Charles in this country? So what do the donators want from the UK/Prince Charles? If they were worried about the poor situation of some people they could very easily start their charitable works at home.

I’ve been reading Tina Brown and Cosmopolitan again which make the claim about toothpaste amongst other foibles, hence my tongue in cheek remark.

Perhaps it is back in the news with so many sleaze stories abounding and the fact it is Qatar money where the next World Cup is due to take place. Think back to the brown envelopes allegedly slipped to Sepp Blatter who had to resign as head of FIFA. Think of Neville and our footballers currently protesting about playing in Qatar with it’s lack of human rights especially for women and non heterosexuals.

2011 and 2015 , no knighthood yet

Could our illustrious PM have a finger in the pie?

Prince Charles has just annoyed Boris about the relocation of asylum seekers to Rwanda - surely not a coincidence that this old story has just emerged?

PC gave Boris the sh*ts and perhaps he caught it and redirected it towards the fan?

Elegran

It is very interesting that there is currently a rash of articles, TV progs etc throwing shit in the direction of the RF. Some of it has obvious roots, some appears to have been dug up from antiquity and embellished, and presented gleefully by the hungry media. Lots of rumour, lots of spin.

Could the "revelations" have some connection with the possible imminence of a change of monarch? Could the sources be republican and/or political? Could our illustrious PM have a finger in the pie?

What! our wonderful, honest, straight forward, financially independent PM involved in skulduggery!!! King of the World - why not? Let’s put it this way, would you buy a used car from Prince Charles or Johnson? Personally, I trust Prince Charles and what’s more he is involved with charity and trying to help people who really need a leg up. Whereas Johnson appears to only want to help himself.

Obviously they think there’s something in it for them. How can anyone reasonably think that these actions are totally altruistic?

Yes to several points and if it's an OBE or an honorary knighthood then it devalues that system too.

However, perhaps in their eagerness to help disadvantaged youngsters in this country start to make something better of their lives, these misgivings were shoved under the carpet.

It is old news and was reported at the time so I'm confused as to why it's hit the headlines now.
Something else is afoot.
Couldn't be anything to do with Boris and Rwanda, could it?