Prince Charles’s 200-strong staff have been furloughed – but not at the cost of the taxpayer.

Prince Charles’s 200-strong staff have been furloughed – but not at the cost of the taxpayer.

Instead he will use reserves at his charity to pay the salaries of his staff although his former valet Michael Fawcett, who now runs The Prince’s Foundation, is rumoured to have had his six-figure salary slashed.

The charity has an annual wage bill of around £4.5 million, and a source said with all visitor attractions closed due to the health crisis, 197 members of staff have been furloughed at its headquarters in Dumfries House in Ayrshire, the Castle of Mey in Caithness and at restaurants in Ballater on Deeside.