King Charles Secretly Meets Ex-Aide Fawcett Amidst Royal Family Tensions and Modernization Talks
October 5, 2025
Michael Fawcett, a former close aide to Prince Charles and chief executive of The King’s Foundation, resigned in 2021 amid allegations related to securing honours and citizenship for a Saudi donor, though no criminal wrongdoing was found.
Recently, King Charles met with Fawcett in what appears to be part of a broader effort to mend relationships and address internal family tensions following the controversy.
This meeting, described as a standard farewell rather than a reconciliation, took place several months ago and involved Fawcett being covertly brought into the royal apartments to avoid public attention.
The King’s engagement with Fawcett signals his desire to reconcile with a figure he considers 'indispensable' and believes to be innocent of the charges, despite concerns from other senior royals.
The reconciliation effort comes amid ongoing discussions about modernizing the monarchy, with Prince William emphasizing the need for change to keep traditions relevant in contemporary times.
Prince William’s remarks about the burden of royal history and openness to reform highlight a broader push within the royal family to balance tradition with modern relevance.
However, the move has caused concern among other senior royals, including Prince William and Queen Camilla, who warned that a formal comeback for Fawcett might harm the monarchy’s reputation.
Despite these concerns, King Charles remains determined to reconnect with Fawcett, viewing him as an 'indispensable' figure and believing he is innocent of the allegations.
The scandal involved significant management failures at the charity, but investigations found no criminal wrongdoing, and Charles continues to see Fawcett as innocent.
Fawcett’s covert entry and exit from royal premises suggest a cautious approach to avoid public scrutiny, reflecting the sensitive nature of the ongoing reconciliation.
Meanwhile, in more routine royal activities, Charles and Camilla were seen waving to well-wishers during a Sunday church visit near Balmoral, indicating that normal royal duties continue amid the controversy.
Summary based on 13 sources
Get a daily email with more UK News stories
Sources

The Independent • Oct 5, 2025
King held Windsor Castle meeting with former closest aide Michael Fawcett
The Independent • Oct 5, 2025
King held Windsor Castle meeting with former closest aide Michael Fawcett
Evening Standard • Oct 5, 2025
King held Windsor Castle meeting with former closest aide Michael Fawcett