Prince Charles’ trusted aide resigns after breaking palace rules

THE Prince of Wales lost his most trusted aide yesterday as a report into allegations of misconduct in the royal household recommended tighter controls on the handling of gifts.

Michael Fawcett, 40, once described by the Prince as “indispensable,” bent palace rules and accepted valuable perks and hospitality, the report found. Although quitting the royal staff, he will continue to work for the Prince.

He is to set up his own event management business and has been guaranteed work by the Prince. The Prince said of his personal assistant: “I am enormously grateful to Mr Fawcett for all he has done over many years and I wish him well.”

News of Mr Fawcett’s resignation came as the Prince’s private secretary Sir Michael Peat published his report into the misconduct allegations.

The report, following an inquiry by Sir Michael and barrister Edmund Lawson QC, found:

Staff accepted gifts and hospitality from outsiders, breaking rules;

An allegation of homosexual rape made by a member of staff against one of the Prince’s closest aides should not have been treated so dismissively;

There was no improper conduct over the collapse of the Old Bailey theft trial of royal butler Paul Burrell.