Great Britain is known as the country of so-called self-deprecation, i.e. the humorous downplaying of one's own importance.
But that doesn't mean that medals aren't extremely popular.
This also and especially applies to foreigners who have lived in the UK for a long time - especially if they would like to have a British passport.
The Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, for example, did not skimp on efforts to obtain a medal and has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in renovating royal properties and charity projects in recent years.
Jochen Buchsteiner
Political correspondent in London.
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In court circles it is of course bad gossip that medals can be bought, but now two newspapers published clear e-mails from the years 2014 to 2017. Close advisors to Mahfouz and Prince Charles left no doubt that money is in exchange for medals were exchanged.
At the weekend, the long-standing right-hand man of the Crown Prince, Michael Fawcett, was relieved of his position until an internal investigation was concluded.
A former minister even announced that he would involve Scotland Yard.
"In light of His Excellency's (the Crown Prince's) continued and recent generosity, I am pleased to confirm, in confidence, that we are ready and pleased to assist with the application for naturalization," Fawcett wrote to an employee of in August 2017 Mahfouz.
Fawcett also agreed to apply for an honorary title and crown the Saudi businessman with an accolade as "CBE" (Commander of the British Empire).
Not on the official calendar
Mahfouz, whose people have been striving for such an order since 2011, had previously received an "OBE" (Officer of the British Empire). Mahfouz advisor William Bortrick wrote an email to a colleague in September 2014 confirming that “more money will flow” as soon as the OBE has been awarded. Fawcett, wrote Bortrick, must now “do his part of the bargain and resolve the OBE matter immediately; and then help with citizenship ”. Shortly afterwards, the British Embassy in Riyadh received mail from the Crown Prince - formally the honor must be proposed by him.
Mahfouz then met Charles in one of the palaces he had renovated in Scotland before being awarded the CBE in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2016. The act was, as the Sunday Times noted, "not on the official calendar of royal commitments," noted. A spokesman for Mahfouz assured over the weekend that he had never "contacted Fawcett personally or directly" to arrange an accolade or citizenship. Incidentally, he did not pursue the latter at all.