‘You are so good at understanding what makes people operate’
Prince Charles asked paedophile Jimmy Savile for help with the Royal Family’s public relations, letters revealed in a new documentary show.
The future king wrote numerous letters to the TV presenter, who was later revealed to have raped and assaulted youngsters in crimes that would shock the world. There is no suggestion the Royal family was aware of Savile’s crimes at the time.
The letters, which were also seen by the Queen and Prince Phillip, will be seen for the first time on Wednesday, as part of a new Netflix documentary, Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story.
Charles reportedly reached out to Savile to help try and improve the family’s image after a number of PR blunders involving Prince Andrew and then-wife Sarah Ferguson, the Mirror reported. Savile was then said to have written an action plan.
One letter written by Charles at Sandringham on January 14, 1989, reads: “Perhaps I am wrong, but you are the bloke who knows what’s going on.
Secret letters sent from Prince Charles to Jimmy Savile spanning 20 years are revealed https://t.co/Q4no14Old4
— Mail+ (@DailyMailUK) April 6, 2022
“What I really need, is a list of suggestions from you. I so want to get to parts of the country that others don’t get to reach.”
Savile committed sex crimes against hundreds of vulnerable victims aged from five to 75 and is said to have come into contact with the Prince and Princess of Wales through his work for Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks, during the 1980s.
Charles reportedly wrote a longer letter to Savile, sent on January 27, 1989, which read: “I attach a copy of my memo on disasters which incorporates your points and which I showed to my Father. He showed it to H.M.”
The day after the Lockerbie disaster Charles again turned to Savile when the royal family was being criticised for not attending a memorial, writing: “I wonder if you would ever be prepared to meet my sister-in-law, the Duchess of York? I can’t help feeling that it would be extremely useful to her if you could.
“I feel she could do with some of your straight-forward common sense.”
On April 16, 1990, Charles then asked Savile for help with a speech he was to make at London’s Guildhall, because “you are so good at understanding what makes people operate and you’re wonderfully sceptical and practical”.
“Can you cast an eye over this draft and let me know how you think we can best appeal to people,” Charles asked in his letter.
Then, on July 4, he wrote to Savile again, expressing his gratitude for helping him with his speech: “It was really good of you to take the trouble to put together those splendid notes and provide me with considerable food for thought.
“Whether you think the final result is in any way worthwhile is another matter. With renewed and heartfelt thanks, Charles.”
Related links:
- Prince Charles pays heartbreaking tribute to Jamal Edwards as fans share media mogul’s poignant tweet
- Council investigates Tory member for posting fake picture of Keir Starmer next to Jimmy Savile
- Police to investigate Prince Charles’ charity over honours and citizenship for Saudi national
