Prince Charles' private income from the Duchy of Cornwall, the royal estate comprising agricultural, commercial and residential property, was 16.46 million pounds last year. -- PHOTO: APLONDON - BRITAIN'S Prince Charles borrowed nearly 3,000 pounds (S$6,800) from his protection officers after the royal found himself short of cash and needing to fork out for 'travel expenses' two years ago.
The heir to the throne repaid the 2,744.34 pounds to his officers after they stumped up the money thought to be for flights abroad, the Independent reported on Wednesday.
The money was paid back by Clarence House in December 2007 and Scotland Yard cashed the cheque days later, the newspaper said, citing a document. The previous month, the Prince and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, had visited Turkey and Uganda.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said officers did occasionally lend money to VIPs they were protecting, although she did not confirm the 2007 incident. A spokesman for the Prince would not comment on the matter.
Mr Ken Wharfe, a former protection officer for Princess Diana, said it was commonplace among him and his former colleagues and that there was 'nothing sinister about it'. 'It is very rare for members of the royal family to carry cash or credit cards, so protection officers paying for things is quite a normal practice,' he was quoted by the paper as saying.
British government and taxpayer funds given to the Prince reached 3 million pounds last year, according to Clarence House. Prince Charles' private income from the Duchy of Cornwall, the royal estate comprising agricultural, commercial and residential property, was 16.46 million pounds last year. -- AFP
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