The King held a farewell audience with his former most trusted aide Michael Fawcett who quit over cash-for-honours claims, it has emerged.
Charles reunited with his controversial ex-valet and one-time closest confidante in a secret Windsor Castle meeting, The Mail on Sunday reported.
Mr Fawcett resigned as chief executive of Charlesâs charity The Kingâs Foundation, then The Princeâs Foundation, in 2021 over allegations he promised to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for a Saudi billionaire donor.
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the alleged cash-for-honours scandal but announced in 2023 that detectives would be taking no further action.
The Mail on Sunday reported Mr Fawcett was âwelcomed back into the Kingâs charmed circle once againâ and smuggled in and out of the royal apartments in a âmilitary-style operationâ.
It is understood the meeting, which happened several months ago, was a final courtesy goodbye audience which the King holds as standard practice for departing senior staff, rather than Mr Fawcett being back in the royal fold.
A Palace source said: âWhile we wouldnât comment on individual private meetings, His Majesty often holds farewell audiences for departing senior staff.
âSome of these can been subject to delay, due to diary pressures, circumstance or ill health.â
Mr Fawcett, who began his career as a Buckingham Palace footman, went on to become Charlesâs most indispensable aide over the decades, with the prince once saying: âI can manage without just about anyone, except for Michael.â
The former royal valet quit twice before, including in 2003 when, as Charlesâs personal assistant, he was accused and cleared by an inquiry of selling royal gifts, but was revealed to have accepted valuable gifts from outsiders.
He continued to have the princeâs patronage as a freelance fixer and party planner, and picked up an undisclosed cash severance package as well as an agreement to work as Charlesâs events manager.
Mr Fawcett was appointed to the role of chief executive of the then-Princeâs Foundation in 2018 amid a reorganisation of Charlesâs charities.
An independent investigation in 2021 found Mr Fawcett co-ordinated with âfixersâ over honours nominations for Saudi billionaire donor Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz.
In January this year, an inquiry by the Scottish charity regulator found Mr Fawcett exposed The Kingâs Foundation to âsubstantial riskâ, but his actions did not amount to misconduct, over his failure to make sure high-value paintings loaned to the charity were insured.
