King Charles to quit charitable work amid ongoing 'cash for honours' concerns

King Charles III has pledged to step back from his charitable work as concerns continue around a cash for honours scandal at one of his charities.

In a televised address to the nation after taking up his role as head of state he said “it will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply”.

He added: “But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”

The decision comes as regulators and police investigate his charitable trust the Prince’s Foundation.

The Foundation is under investigation by the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR) and the Metropolitan Police Service after claims emerged last year that donations had been used to secure honours and citizenship for a Saudi national.

Meanwhile, The Charity Commission has launched an investigation into another charity, the Mahfouz Foundation, concerning claims that it received donations that were intended for the Prince’s Foundation.

Last year an independent investigation into the scandal found evidence that former Prince’s Foundation chief executive Michael Fawcett coordinated with “fixers regarding honorary nominations for a donor”.

Fawcett quit last year after temporarily stepping down.

Academics call for charity work to end

Constitutional academics have recommended King Charles steps back from his charity work citing concerns around the scandal at the Prince’s Foundation.

“As Prince of Wales, Charles notably pioneered innovative charities for which he was a formidable fundraiser,” said Professor Robert Hazell and Dr Bob Morris of the Constitution Unit.

But “public concerns" around his charity work "including a police investigation of allegations that honours had been offered in exchange for donations, must in future be avoided", they add.

They also warn King Charles that “no King can afford to appear beholden to any private interests. It follows that he must divest himself of all personal involvement, devolving patronage of his charities to other members of the royal family.”