Dear Sir,
The problems related to the yacht Fortuna and the company Aizoon are two sides of the same coin. Both depended on local business patronising the monarchy possibly in the hope for the return of royal favours.
I understand that the Infanta Cristina is an owner/director of the company Aizoon which is implicated in the Noos Foundation corruption allegations where her husband is also a director. If, as she claims, she knows nothing about the malfeasance and, as her lawyers claim, all is driven by the love of her husband she is innocent. It is not a crime to be a sleeping director even if receiving a salary. Nor is it a crime to be on the board of a company purely from the kudos a Princess brings to the outfit’s PR. Similarly she is not to blame if the brown nosed grandees of the Palma Council ordain her Duchess of Palma to add to her many honours including the “Supreme Class of the Order of the Virtues” awarded by Hosni Mubarak of Egypt a world renowned expert in this field. Nor is King Carlos to blame for accepting the gift of a luxury yacht from companies/organisations given for the kudos his title might bring to Majorcan business or perhaps to the businessmen themselves.
But Britain could teach them a thing or two.
We have a much more extensive network through our honours system. Every year it is alimented by some 14,000 more citizens who get letters after their names many for just doing their daily jobs. In all honesty there are some who give over and above for no hope of reward but many give much time and millions in money in hope of letters not just behind their names but 3 (sir - good) or 4 (lord - better) in front! By coincidence (?) just this week our own Royal Offspring William, Kate and Harry have set up companies to protect their “brand”. Any profits will go to charities. Have we heard this before apropos the Noos Foundation?
Mike Lillico
Playa de Palma
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