Prince Charles’ ‘secretive deals with Tory peer who spent £1.7m bailing out his failed eco-village’ being investigated
PRINCE Charles is being investigated after he carried out secret deals with a Tory peer who bailed out his doomed eco-village, according to reports.
The royal presented Lord Brownlow with an award during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace after allegedly accepting millions in donations from him.
He appointed the Tory peer as trustee of the Prince’s Foundation, which manages Charles’ Scottish stately home Dumfries House, in 2013, The Sunday Times reports.
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has now confirmed it is investigating.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the work of Havisham Group and property transactions relating to the Knockroon development in Ayrshire forms part of our overall investigation, work on which is ongoing.”
Lord Brownlow helped bail Charles out of a failed eco-village project that he believed would help pay off his £20million loan for the mansion, it is reported.
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Just 31 of 770 homes were built in Knockroon – with Lord Brownlow allegedly spending £1.7million buying unwanted houses using his company Havisham Properties.
Months later, he is understood to have enjoyed a lavish birthday party at Dumfries House with performances by Dynamo, Alfie Boe and Cirque du Soleil fire dancers.
His firm was also awarded a series of contracts by the Prince’s Foundation – including one worth around £1.2million in 2015, it is said.
The peer, who funded the controversial refurbishment of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street flat, quit as a trustee three years later and was made Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO).
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This honour is approved by the Queen and usually handed out for important or personal service to the Royal Family.
A Prince’s Foundation spokeswoman said: “Lord Brownlow was appointed CVO in 2018 in recognition of his role of chair of the charity The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community.”
While a Clarence House spokesman added: “Chairpersons of charities closely associated with the royal family are often appointed to the Royal Victorian Order to thank them for their public service, on completion of their tenure.”
It comes after it was reported Charles had accepted €1million in cash stuffed in a suitcase from a controversial Qatari politician.
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The gifts from controversial Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani were reportedly bundled into a holdall, a suitcase and Fortnum & Mason carrier bags.
Clarence House insists all correct processes were followed.