A spokesman who worked for Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry’s Sussex Royal charity has issued a statement after the charity was accused of “inappropriate use of funds, lack of independence and conflict of interest” over payments made to Prince Harry’s company Travalyst.
The Sussex Royal foundation and another royal charity, the Royal Foundation were reported to the Charity Commission by vocal anti-royalist and Republic campaigner Graham Smith.
On Monday Mr Smith tweeted: “I’ve reported Sussex Royal and the Royal Foundation to the Charity Commission for inappropriate use of funds, lack of independence and conflict of interest.”
In his letter to the Charity Commission Mr Smith wrote: “These two charities appear to be in breach of guidelines regarding the proper use of charitable funds and may be failing in their duty to act independently and solely in the interests of their objectives.”
“The Royal Foundation gave a grant of £145,000 to Sussex Royal and £144,901 to a non-charitable organisation (Travalyst).”
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The Royal Foundation was jointly run by the Cambridges and Sussexes, until Meghan and Harry split from it last summer, and finalising the separation involved a payout to the Sussexes’ own charities.
A source told Express.co.uk that an “unrestricted grant” of £145,000 was given to Sussex Royal to facilitate the set-up of the new charity and £144,901 of grants were paid to Travalyst.
The said that all Sussex Royal funds will be transferred to Harry’s sustainable tourism initiative, Travalyst.
However, Travalyst was registered as a limited company on April 3 this year and has not been registered with the Charity Commission.
A spokesman from Prince Harry’s legal team Schillings issued the following statement rebuking Republic’s claims as “false”.
The statement read: “The Duke of Sussex has always and continues to remain deeply committed to his charitable work.
“This is his life’s focus, and his devotion to charity is at the very core of the principles he lives by, and is obvious through the impact and success of his many charitable projects throughout the UK and beyond.
“To this point it is deeply offensive to today see false claims made about the Duke of Sussex and his charitable work. It is both defamatory and insulting to all the outstanding organisations and people he has partnered with.
“Travalyst (which was founded within Sussex Royal) is a non-profit organisation for which the Duke receives no commercial or financial gain, as is the case with all of his charitable commitments.
“The Duke has not, nor has he ever, had any personal financial interest in his charitable work. The interest has always been clear: To support others and to make a positive difference.
“Had the appropriate course of action been followed for these false allegations, it would have clearly demonstrated that anything related to Sussex Royal, Travalyst, or any of the Duke’s charitable endeavours, is transparent and above board.
“To suggest otherwise is unequivocally wrong and will be acted upon accordingly with the weight of the law.
“The avenue through which this was publically and salaciously created only suggests a hunger for media attention as well as a shared and attacking agenda, which is neither right nor just.
“Both the Charity Commission’s own statement today, as well as that of the Royal Foundation, state there is no determination of wrongdoing here.
“All of the Duke’s charitable activities are fully transparent as well as compliant with Charity Commission guidelines, and moreover with his own moral compass.”
