Royal aide quits after inquiry

The Prince of Wales has lost his most trusted aide as an official report into allegations of misconduct in the royal household recommended tighter controls on the way gifts are handled.

Father-of-two Michael Fawcett, 40, once described by the Prince as "indispensable, bent palace rules and accepted valuable perks and hospitality, the report found.

But although he is quitting the royal staff, he will continue to work for the Prince on a freelance basis. He is to set up his own event management business and has been guaranteed work by the Prince, who also gave him a cash severance package.

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 with his new business."

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, uncovered no evidence of serious wrongdoing but expressed misgivings about some staff practices.

Sir Michael insisted that the report was not a whitewash.

He said: "The cover may be cream but it's certainly not a whitewash. In many ways it is unprecedented ... and says where there were serious failings.

"I am not going to make any excuses - things have not been well handled in this office. The Prince of Wales has said that he wants everything to be sorted out - he wants his office run to the highest possible standards."

Commenting on the report, the Prince said: "The review does not make comfortable reading in some parts, but I accept full responsibility and all the recommendations. He added: "I am determined that the administrative procedures in my household should be to the highest standards and I have asked Michael Peat to ensure that this is the case."

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