Criticism for using RAF planes for golfing trips

In May 2020, the UK Charity Commission opened an investigation into the Prince Andrew Charitable Trust (PACT) following concerns about potential breaches of charity law. The probe focused on payments made to Amanda Thirsk, a former trustee of the charity and private secretary to Prince Andrew, Duke of York, raising questions about governance and financial oversight within the organization. The investigation, which concluded in June 2020, found that a total of £355,297 had been paid to Thirsk over a five-year period between 2015 and 2020. These payments were linked to her role as a director of the charity’s trading subsidiaries, including initiatives such as Pitch@Palace. However, under UK charity law, trustees are generally prohibited from receiving payment for such roles unless explicit authorization is granted either through the charity’s governing document or by the Charity Commission. In this case, no such authorization had been secured. The Commission determined that the payments constituted a breach of charity law and highlighted shortcomings in how conflicts of interest were handled. Trustees were found not to have adequately managed the situation or demonstrated that the payments represented appropriate value for money for the charity. The findings pointed to deficiencies in governance practices during the period under review. Following the conclusion of the inquiry, the Duke of York’s Household repaid the full £355,297 to the trust, with the funds intended to be redistributed to charitable causes. In addition, the trustees informed the Charity Commission of their decision to wind up the Prince Andrew Charitable Trust and its associated entities. The closure process followed the Duke’s withdrawal from public duties in November 2019. #PrinceAndrew #CharityCommission #PACT #UKCharities #RoyalFamily #Governance