National media attention on Castle of Mey over 'cash for honours' allegations
The Castle of Mey has featured prominently in national media coverage of "cash for honours" allegations involving The Prince's Foundation, one of Prince Charles's charities.
The foundation is carrying out an investigation into an alleged offer by the prince's former aide Michael Fawcett to help a wealthy Saudi businessman secure an honour.
Prince Charles has "no knowledge" of the alleged offer, Clarence House has said.
Mr Fawcett has temporarily stepped down from his role as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation and will assist the investigation.
Allegations about Mr Fawcett's actions were published in the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday and relate to a donor to the Prince's Foundation, Dr Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz.

It is claimed that a promise was made to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for Dr Mahfouz.
He is said to have donated large sums to restoration projects of interest to Prince Charles, including Dumfries House in Ayrshire and the Castle of Mey.
The Mail on Sunday reported in 2015 that Dr Mahfouz was understood to have donated £370,000 to the charitable trust that runs the Castle of Mey. The newspaper said an area of woodland near the 16th-century castle had been named Mahfouz Wood.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Dr Mahfouz.
The Castle and Gardens of Mey, the former holiday home of the Queen Mother and one of the leading tourist attractions in the far north, is part of The Prince's Foundation. The castle's website lists Dr Mahfouz as an honorary patron.
The website describes Dr Mahfouz as an international businessman and philanthropist living in Saudi Arabia and in the UK. "He has a great interest in the culture and history of Scotland, hence his valued support for the Castle and Gardens of Mey," it says.
"He was awarded an honorary CBE by Her Majesty The Queen and appointed a Community Patron and Ambassador of The Prince’s Foundation by HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay."
A spokesperson at Clarence House, the prince's official residence, said: “The Prince of Wales has no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities and fully supports the investigation now under way by The Prince’s Foundation.”
A spokesperson for The Prince's Foundation said: "The Prince's Foundation takes very seriously the allegations that have recently been brought to its attention and the matter is currently under investigation.
"The scope of The Prince’s Foundation investigation has been extended to cover this weekend’s newspaper reports. The trustees had already arranged an independent review by an external senior forensic accountant from a ‘big four’ accountancy firm.
"We are incredibly proud of The Prince's Foundation's charitable work and the positive impact it has on our beneficiaries throughout the UK and across the world. Our education and training programmes, in particular, benefit more than 15,000 people every year, and provide our students with the skills and confidence needed to gain employment or start their own businesses."
Speaking on Saturday, Douglas Connell, chairman of The Prince's Foundation, said: "Earlier today [September 4], Michael Fawcett offered to step down temporarily from active duties as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation while the trustees' investigation is ongoing. The Prince's Foundation has accepted this offer.
"Michael fully supports the ongoing investigation and has confirmed that he will assist the investigation in every way."
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has been informed, as The Prince's Foundation is registered in Scotland.
A spokesperson for OSCR said: “We have been in contact with the charity to ask for further details of the issues which have appeared in the media over the past week. Once we have more information we will consider this in line with our published policies.”
Pressure group Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, says it has contacted the Metropolitan Police and reported the prince and his former aide in relation to the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.
Graham Smith, chief executive of the organisation, said: “Failure to properly investigate these matters will damage public trust in the police, the royals and the honours system.”