King Charles has quietly met with his disgraced former royal aide Michael Fawcett for the first time in years as Royal Family tensions continue to escalate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The monarch and Mr Fawcett secretly met at Windsor Castle months ago, following the former chief executive\u2019s resignation from the King\u2019s Foundation over a cash for honours scandal in 2021, People confirmed on Monday.<\/p>\n
Charles reportedly whisked his ex-right-hand man in and out of the castle in a \u201cmilitary-style operation\u201d to keep the meeting under wraps.<\/p>\n
A source told the publication the gathering was a \u201cfarewell audience\u201d for Michael, which was likely delayed following the King\u2019s cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we wouldn\u2019t comment on individual private meetings, His Majesty often holds farewell audiences for departing senior staff,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of these can be subject to delay, due to diary pressures, circumstance or ill health.\u201d<\/p>\n
The source added Charles \u201chas never stopped feeling the loss of Michael being forced to resign\u201d, and the King often confides within the palace walls about the 62-year-old being \u201cthe one person he can scarcely do without\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 76-year-old monarch himself has even been widely cited as saying he can \u201cmanage without just about anyone, except for Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the source said the aide will not return to the royal fold after his highly publicised scandal which rocked the palace four years ago.<\/p>\n
Michael received a \u00a360,000 (AUD $122,274.90) payout upon his departure from Charles\u2019s foundation in 2021.<\/p>\n
It came shortly after he reportedly secured British citizenship and a knighthood for Saudi businessman\u00a0Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who donated more than \u00a31.5 million to royal charities, in 2016.<\/p>\n
The Mail on Sunday reported Mr Fawcett, in a 2017 letter to Mahfouz\u2019s aide, wrote the honour was given to him \u201cin response to the most recent and anticipated support (of) The Trust, and in connection with his ongoing commitment generally within the United Kingdom\u201d.<\/p>\n
This prompted a criminal complaint and a police inquiry, with a summary report in December 2021 stating Mr Fawcett had coordinated with “fixers”.<\/p>\n
The Metropolitan Police reportedly concluded its investigation into the scandal in 2023, stating no further action would be taken.<\/p>\n
At the time, a spokesperson for the King told the BBC: “The Prince’s Foundation has noted the decision of the Metropolitan Police.<\/p>\n
“Following the conclusion of its own independent investigation and governance review last year, the charity is moving forward with a continued focus on delivering the education and training programs for which it has been established,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n