Michael Fawcett
Encyclopedia
Michael Fawcett is the former senior valet
and a "close personal friend" of Charles, Prince of Wales
. Fawcett resigned from his position in Prince Charles' inner circle in March 2003, after the report by Sir Michael Peat
. During this period, he was poorly paid, and took other work to supplement his income - including waiter
duties at Claridge's
. It was here one night when NCP
carparks owner Sir Donald Gosling entered Claridges restaurant without a neck tie. Fawcett provided a highly suitable tie choice, and the two became friends.
Fawcett rose to become Prince Charles's personal valet. Fawcett is widely described by his employees as strict, and often bullying, but was protected by the Prince, such as in an episode in 1998 in which various staff complained about Fawcett's bullying attitude. Former royal press officer Dickie Arbiter remarked of Fawcett, "Fawcett has been there for so many years, so close in times of stress, that he knows all the ins and outs and all the warts."
Daytona watch valued at £3500. Despite his official resignation, he returned to work for the Prince as a freelance organiser and in other roles, while those employees who had complained were "no longer with the Prince's staff".
In 2005, the former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke
said to the Mail on Sunday that in 2003 many people had been afraid to help with the Peat inquiry: "None came forward because no one could guarantee Michael would go. He resigned, then four days later he was back. Everybody was concerned that if you spoke out against him, he could get rid of you."
In January 2008, Fawcett "tested" his friend Sir Donald Gosling's yacht M.Y. Leander
on behalf of the Prince, before Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall chartered Leander for their royal tour of islands in the Caribbean
, on the grounds of reduced carbon emissions over the use of an aeroplane. This was the first official royal cruise since the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Valet
Valet and varlet are terms for male servants who serve as personal attendants to their employer.- Word origins :In the Middle Ages, the valet de chambre to a ruler was a prestigious appointment for young men...
and a "close personal friend" of Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
. Fawcett resigned from his position in Prince Charles' inner circle in March 2003, after the report by Sir Michael Peat
Career
Like many Royal servants, Fawcett started his career as a footmanFootman
A footman is a male servant, notably as domestic staff.-Word history:The name derives from the attendants who ran beside or behind the carriages of aristocrats, many of whom were chosen for their physical attributes. They ran alongside the coach to make sure it was not overturned by such obstacles...
. During this period, he was poorly paid, and took other work to supplement his income - including waiter
Waiter
Waiting staff, wait staff, or waitstaff are those who work at a restaurant or a bar attending customers — supplying them with food and drink as requested. Traditionally, a male waiting tables is called a "waiter" and a female a "waitress" with the gender-neutral version being a "server"...
duties at Claridge's
Claridge's
Claridge's is a luxury hotel in Mayfair, central London. It is located at the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street.-History:Claridge's is a traditional grand hotel. Its extensive and old connections with royalty have led to it being referred to as an "extension to Buckingham Palace"...
. It was here one night when NCP
National Car Parks
National Car Parks is the United Kingdom’s largest private car park operator, with over 200,000 spaces across more than 700 locations in towns and cities, railway stations and at airports....
carparks owner Sir Donald Gosling entered Claridges restaurant without a neck tie. Fawcett provided a highly suitable tie choice, and the two became friends.
Fawcett rose to become Prince Charles's personal valet. Fawcett is widely described by his employees as strict, and often bullying, but was protected by the Prince, such as in an episode in 1998 in which various staff complained about Fawcett's bullying attitude. Former royal press officer Dickie Arbiter remarked of Fawcett, "Fawcett has been there for so many years, so close in times of stress, that he knows all the ins and outs and all the warts."
Prince Charles' denial of unspecified banned allegation
In 2003, Fawcett received an injunction against The Mail on Sunday, banning them from writing about an unspecified allegation. A few days later, Prince Charles issued a statement, asserting that the unspecified banned allegation was untrue.Gift selling
In March 2003, after the report by Sir Michael Peat accusing him of selling gifts during his time working for the royal household, including a RolexRolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
Daytona watch valued at £3500. Despite his official resignation, he returned to work for the Prince as a freelance organiser and in other roles, while those employees who had complained were "no longer with the Prince's staff".
In 2005, the former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke
Tiggy Legge-Bourke
Alexandra Shân "Tiggy" Legge-Bourke MVO was nanny, later companion, to Prince William of Wales and his brother Prince Harry, and a personal assistant to Charles, Prince of Wales, between 1993 and 1999...
said to the Mail on Sunday that in 2003 many people had been afraid to help with the Peat inquiry: "None came forward because no one could guarantee Michael would go. He resigned, then four days later he was back. Everybody was concerned that if you spoke out against him, he could get rid of you."
After resignation
Although forced to resign from the official staff in light of the accusations in Sir Michael Peat's report, Fawcett returned to the Prince's staff in a freelance capacity. Forming his own valet services and entertainment company, Fawcett's wife Debbie (a former Buckingham Palace housemaid), became the official custodian of the Prince's watercolour paintings, arranging for them to be sold off to private buyers or sent to auction - the proceeds contributing to the £4million raised by the Prince for worthy causes. She also took over from her husband the important task of buying the Christmas and birthday gifts the Prince gives to family and friends, as well as presents for his godchildren.In January 2008, Fawcett "tested" his friend Sir Donald Gosling's yacht M.Y. Leander
Leander (yacht)
M.Y. Leander G is a luxury yacht built by Peene Werft in 1992. The yacht is owned by NCP millionaire Sir Donald Gosling. She is presently the world's 60th-largest superyacht.-Design:...
on behalf of the Prince, before Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall chartered Leander for their royal tour of islands in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, on the grounds of reduced carbon emissions over the use of an aeroplane. This was the first official royal cruise since the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia.