King Charles III is facing the first crisis of its management after police confirmed they had conditionally interviewed two men as part of a criminal investigation into alleged cash-for-honours. In February, London’s Metropolitan Police said it had launched an investigation into allegations in media reports that awards were being offered to a Saudi national in exchange for donations to one of the then…Prince Charles‘s charities.
Charles acceded to the throne when he became king on September 8, following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth – two days after the police investigation took a major turn.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police today said: “On Tuesday, September 6, police interviewed a man in his fifties and a man in his forties who was under caution in connection with offenses under the Honors (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.
“The investigation is still ongoing and we will not be providing ongoing commentary on its progress.”
The Sunday Times reported last year that a Saudi businessman had received an award after paying thousands of pounds for projects that Charles, with the help of the then heir to the assistants to the throne, strongly supported.
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
A spokesman for Charles previously said: “The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of awards or British citizenship based on donations to his charities.”
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In February, police said agents had contacted The Prince’s Foundation about the findings of an independent investigation into fundraising practices and that the foundation had provided a number of relevant documents.
Weeks after the first newspaper report, Michael Fawcett, Charles’s right-hand man for decades, took up his position as director of the royal charity, The Prince’s Foundation.
Regardless of the legal squabble, the latest polls have suggested support for the monarchy has increased following the Queen’s funeral, a new poll shows.
NOT MISSING
Nearly half of those polled by Ipsos on Tuesday and Wednesday said Britain would be worse if the monarchy was abolished, while less than a quarter said the country would be improved as a republic.
The poll of 1,000 adults found that 47 percent said the UK would be worse without a monarch, compared to 42 percent who said the same shortly after its platinum anniversary in June.
Only 22 percent said abolishing the monarchy would make the country better, the same percentage as in February 2022 and just under 23 percent in June.
In the longer term, support for a republic has increased slightly from 15 percent in March 2018, while support for the monarchy remains hovering around 45 percent.
Opinions about the monarchy are more divided among the 18 to 34 year olds.
Only 33 percent of young people believe the country would be worse without a monarch, while 32 percent believe the country would be better and 26 percent think it would make no difference.
Overall, 56 percent of people expected the monarchy to last at least another 50 years, up from 45 percent in March 2022.
The proportion saying Charles III will be a good king has risen from 49 percent to 61 percent, closer to support for the Prince of Wales, who 72 percent expect to do well as king when the time comes .
Kelly Beaver, chief executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland, said: “Following the sad events of the Queen’s death, King Charles begins his reign with the majority of Britons optimistic that he will become a good king, and an increased belief in the longevity of the monarchy.
“However, as the country comes out of its mourning period, it will be important to see if this is sustained, especially as it remains a challenge to demonstrate relevance to younger generations.”
A separate poll conducted by Savanta ComRes for the Daily Express found 63 percent of the public thought Charles III has made a good start to his reign and 69 percent think he will make a good king.