King Charles III’s charity, The King’s Foundation, has been criticized after a regulator found serious failures in how it was run. The investigation, which lasted over three years, focused on decisions made by the charity’s former leader but did not accuse anyone of wrongdoing.
The investigation followed allegations that a Saudi businessman had been offered help to get a knighthood and British citizenship in exchange for donations. However, the regulator’s report stated that while the charity’s decision-making and record-keeping were poor in the past, it found no evidence of misconduct by the charity’s trustees.
The charity has made improvements in recent years, introducing better governance practices, according to a spokesperson.
Michael Fawcett resigned as CEO of the charity in 2021 after a report revealed that he had offered to help a Saudi businessman secure a knighthood and citizenship in exchange for donations. The police investigated the matter but did not press charges. The regulator’s report continues to shadow the charity, which is now trying to move on from the scandal.
The report also covered issues with artworks loaned to the charity in 2017, which were later questioned for possibly being fakes. The artworks were worth millions, but there was no insurance for them between 2017 and 2019.
The charity is facing criticism for poor handling of finances and administration, but no criminal charges have been brought against anyone involved.
