By Press Association 2020-
The Duke of Sussex’s lawyers are to formally write to anti-monarchy group Republic to contest its claims that Harry and his brother’s charitable foundations breached Charity Commission rules.
The legal warning was highlighted in a strongly worded statement from Harry’s legal team that said his charity work was “his life’s focus” and Republic’s allegations were “deeply offensive”.
It went on to say: “The duke has not, nor has he ever, had any personal financial interest in his charitable work.”
Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, has reported the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s foundations to the Charity Commission for alleged “inappropriate use of charitable funds, conflicts of interest and lack of independence”.
The claims were made after Harry and Meghan’s Sussex Royal charitable body received a six-figure grant from William and Kate’s Royal Foundation.
The royals together at Sandringham (Joe Giddens/PA)Harry’s fledgling not-for-profit sustainable travel organisation Travalyst also received funds from the Cambridges’ foundation, and it has received the assets of Sussex Royal, which is in the process of being wound up.
A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex’s legal team, Schillings, said: “The Duke of Sussex has always and continues to remain deeply committed to his charitable work.
“This is his life’s focus, and his devotion to charity is at the very core of the principles he lives by, and is obvious through the impact and success of his many charitable projects throughout the UK and beyond.
“To this point, it is deeply offensive to today see false claims made about the Duke of Sussex and his charitable work.”
The statement went on to say: “Travalyst (which was founded within Sussex Royal) is a non-profit organisation for which the duke receives no commercial or financial gain, as is the case with all of his charitable commitments.