Britain's Prince Charles' charity got money from Osama bin Laden's kin

London, July 31

A charitable fund founded by Britain’s Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, accepted a donation from slain Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden’s family in 2013, a UK media report claimed on Sunday.

Met Al-Qaida chief’s half brother in London: Report

• Report in The Sunday Times claims Prince Charles met Al-Qaida founder’s half-brother Bakr in London and ‘agreed’ to accept £1 mn
• Several advisers urged Charles to return the money
• But Clarence House office denied the royal was personally involved in decision

According to The Sunday Times, Prince Charles met Al-Qaida founder’s half-brother Bakr in London and ‘agreed’to accept £1 million.

The report claims that several close advisers urged Charles, heir to Britain’s throne, to return the money. However, his Clarence House office has denied that the royal was personally involved in the decision. “The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund (PWCF) has assured us that thorough diligence was undertaken in accepting this donation,” a Clarence House spokesperson said.

“The decision to accept was taken by the charity’s trustees alone and any attempt to characterise it otherwise is false,” the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund said the donation from Sheik Bakr bin Laden in 2013 was carefully considered by PWCF trustees at the time.