Prince Charles' charity is under investigation following allegations a Saudi businessman made donations in exchange for British citizenship and knighthood.
The Prince's Foundation is an educational charity for traditional urban design and architecture.
Media reports emerged last September the chief executive of The Prince’s Foundation, Michael Fawcett, had offered Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz an honourary CBE for a £1.5 million donation.
The Metropolitan Police received a letter about the media reports from Republic, an anti-monarchy pressure group. The letter was subsequently assessed by the police, and on Thursday they launched an investigation.
At the time the Metropolitan Police received the letter, Fawcett temporarily stepped back as chief executive.
He resigned in November, on the same day reports of Prince Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Giuffre hit headlines.
Clarence House told BBC News Prince Charles had "no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities".
The Prince is president of the foundation but is not involved with its governance or the charity’s trustees overseeing day-to-day activities, Clarence House said. The Prince’s Foundation is offering full cooperation to the police.
Mahfouz is not accused of and denies any wrongdoing.
