King Charles and Camilla keeping away horrible secret of what really happened to Princess Diana’s ac
Despite previously committing to release an annual list of official gifts received, King Charles and the royal family have not published this list for the past four years. This delay has raised questions about transparency, with royal officials attributing the failure to release the information to various disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the change in reign, and the preparation for King Charles’ coronation in 2023.
The royal family has faced controversy surrounding transparency issues, particularly with scandals involving financial donations and gifts. One of the most notable controversies involved a police investigation into “cash for honors,” linked to King Charles’ charitable foundation. The investigation was dropped without a full explanation, adding to public concern over the lack of accountability. Another scandal emerged when it was revealed that, as the Prince of Wales, Charles accepted millions of pounds in cash from a Qatari politician for his charitable fund.
Despite these controversies, members of the royal family are not required to publicly disclose their gifts in the same way that British MPs must declare donations and hospitality. Instead, royal family members rely on their private secretaries to determine which gifts should be declared. This has raised concerns about a lack of transparency, particularly when the royals receive valuable or controversial gifts from foreign dignitaries.
For instance, in 2018, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, received a pair of chandelier earrings worth £500,000 from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, just days after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Although palace officials initially claimed the earrings were borrowed, it was later revealed that they were a wedding gift from the controversial figure.
The last official gift list was published in April 2020, covering gifts received in 2019. However, since then, no comprehensive list has been made available, with only occasional mentions of gifts during state visits or public engagements. This lack of transparency contrasts with the past, when detailed records of gifts, such as those for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s wedding in 1947, were made public, even allowing the public to view over 2,500 items they received.
Charles previously ordered a formal review of royal gift policies in 2003, after a scandal involving the sale of unwanted gifts by royal staff. This led to stricter definitions of official gifts versus personal presents, with official gifts deemed those given as part of royal duties or from individuals or organizations the royals do not personally know. These official gifts do not belong to the family members themselves but are considered the property of the Crown.
The recent silence on the release of gift lists has reignited calls for the royal family to maintain greater transparency, especially given their role as public figures supported by public funds.
