King Charles had a close friendship with the notorious pedophile Jimmy Saville that lasted almost 50 years.
After his death in 2011, Savile was unmasked as one of Britain’s most prolific sexual abusers of both women and children.
It is widely claimed that the Monarch was not aware of the accusations against Savile and repeatedly sought advice from him during their long friendship… and according to a new book, Charles actually wanted to give the pedophile an official role on his staff.
The book entitled ‘Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants’ by Tom Quinn, which will be published on February 18, reveals details Charles’s friendship with Savile.
The Mail Online reports: The pair were first introduced by Charles’s favourite Uncle Earl Mountbatten as early as 1966.
From that moment to the presenter’s death in 2011, the pair became such a close friends that the then Prince Charles leaned on him during the breakdown of his marriage to Princess Diana and looked to him as a mentor.
The DJ who, after his death, was at the centre of a national sexual abuse scandal, was also considered as the King’s media adviser and party planner and at one point, was in the running for the role of godfather for his sons, Princes William and Harry.
In the bombshell book, Mr Quinn wrote: ‘Perhaps the most embarrassing adviser–royal relationship was that between Prince Charles, as he then was, and TV personality and paedophile Jimmy Savile.’
Mr Quinn went on to reveal that King Charles was so enamoured by the Jim’ll Fix It host that he asked Savile if he would consider joining his staff on a formal basis full time.
The bombshell book reads: ‘Mountbatten introduced Savile to Charles, who quickly took to him, and Savile became Charles’s media adviser, marriage guidance counsellor and party planner.
‘He was even considered as a godfather for William and Harry and at one point Charles felt Savile should join his staff on a formal basis. Luckily for Charles, Savile preferred the limelight of television.’
And that wasn’t the only sign of the deep friendship between the pair.
Savile was thought of so highly by the King that he became the first civilian to be awarded a green beret, making him an honorary Royal Marine.
When the disgraced star died, he was also buried with the mark of respect.
And on Savile’s 80th birthday, Charles sent him a very personal gift, a box of cigars and a note that said: ‘Nobody will ever know what you have done for this country, Jimmy.’
In December a Christmas card sent from the King was put up for sale on eBay, more than a decade after it was first sold at auction.
The greetings card, which features a portrait of Charles with Princes William and Harry on the inside, was first sent in 2003, when Harry was 19 and William was 21.
The card, which went on sale for £1,500 reads: ‘Jimmy, wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year, Charles.’
The front of the card bears the gold gilt seal of the Prince of Wales, as King Charles was then.
On the back of the card is a sticker from Dreweatts Bloomsbury from 2012, marking the year that the card was first sold as a collection of Savile’s ‘treasures’ – following his death in 2011.
Over the course of their friendship – including the notorious sex criminal receiving the royal approval of a knighthood – Charles and Savile had decades worth of written exchanges, some of which has already gone for sale.
