PRINCE Harry was last night accused of making his father look foolish as he tried to distance himself from a cash for honours scandal.
The Duke of Sussex released a statement yesterday insisting he cut ties with a controversial Saudi billionaire at the centre of Prince Charles’ honours probe because of “concerns over his motives”.
Harry, 37, reportedly took a £50,000 charity donation in 2013 from Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz — who hinted that he would give millions more.
The relationship cleared the way for Mahfouz to meet his father, 73.
The billionaire went on to donate more than £1.5million to Charles’ charities before controversially being made a CBE in 2016.
The awarding of the honour is now the focus of a police investigation, which sparked the resignation of Charles’ top aide, Michael Fawcett.
Harry insisted he cut ties with Mahfouz amid doubts over the billionaire’s intentions.
But dad Charles carried on dealing with the Saudi.
The Duke of Sussex’s statement said: “The duke and his advisors, as well as his non-profit charity Sentebale, severed ties with Mr Mahfouz and his associates in 2015, no longer accepting further donations to Sentebale and discontinuing any plans for a fund-raising event amid growing concerns over the motives for his support.
“The duke had one planned meeting with this donor nearly eight years ago, did not introduce him to any members of the royal family and expressed his concerns about the donor.”
Royal experts said Harry’s statement had left Charles looking foolish by passing the buck to his father.
Angela Levin, Prince Harry’s biographer, said: “He doesn’t mention Charles by name in his statement but it’s a clear case of one-upmanship.
“Harry looks for any occasion to whack his father and criticise him. It’s sad.”
Others have suggested Harry’s statement is instead aimed at Charles’s ex-aide.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in- chief of Majesty magazine, said: “He might personally be feeling that his father is an idiot — but he would never say it. If anyone, he would lay the blame on Michael Fawcett.
“Harry never liked Fawcett. The way he fawned over their father, he found it distasteful.”
Prince Charles yesterday said he was prepared to speak to police about the scandal.
He said he had no knowledge of any deal between Fawcett and Mahfouz.
This is not the first time royals have attracted criticism over dealings with Saudis.
In 2018, Harry’s wife Meghan wore diamond earrings given to her by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as his regime was being linked to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
