Jimmy Savile, King Charles and healthcare advice

I recently received the following comment on a post from 2022 on King Charles and Laurence van der Post:

I doubt that Van der Post was the original influence on Charles to adhere to alternative or natural medicine. After all, his mother was a patient of homeopath Marjorie Blackie in the 1960s and ’70s. Other than that it does look like much of Van der Post’s influence on Charles might have been benign and helpful, even if he was not an entirely trustworthy figure. And you have to ask, has anyone around Prince Charles ever been a most trustworthy figure? His father, brother Andrew, even his Mum?

The question, “has anyone around Prince Charles ever been a most trustworthy figure? “, prompted me to look into an aspect that had been on my mind for some time and my book CHARLES THE ALTERNATIVE KING did not cover:

Jimmy Savile.

As most readers will know, Jimmy Savile was a British VIP, DJ, and television presenter who became infamous posthumously for his extensive sexual abuse of hundreds of victims over decades. His connections to high-profile figures, including Margaret Thatcher, and BBC personnel, are well-documented. Far less well-known are his relations with King Charles (at the time Prince Charles, of course). Here is what my research found about it:

Savile’s relationship with King Charles started in the 1980s and lasted until Savile’s death. It was facilitated by Savile’s high-profile work with charities, particularly hospitals like Stoke Mandeville and Leeds General Infirmary. According to Dan Davies, the Duke of Edinburgh viewed Jimmy Savile as “useful for his eldest son when it came to the common touch”. Charles reportedly saw Savile as a charismatic figure with a knack for public engagement. And Princess Diana would describe Savile as “her husband’s mentor”. Eventually, this led to Savile being invited into the royal circle as an informal advisor. His advisory role focused on public relations, e.g.:

• He provided guidance on how Charles could improve his public image. This included suggestions on public appearances and managing press interactions.
• Catherine Mayer’s biography mentions that Savile was involved in drafting or advising on speeches for Charles.
• Savile’s connections gave him an opportunity to offer Charles advice on navigating the public eye. Letters from Charles to Savile, spanning 20 years, reveal a trusting relationship, with Charles addressing Savile as “My Dear Jimmy” and seeking his input on various matters.

Savile’s involvement in health policy discussions with Charles was significant, particularly given Charles’ keen interest and activities in so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) e.g.:

• In her biography, Catherine Mayer recounts discussions about hospital services at Highgrove (date unspecified but likely 1980s-1990s), where health officials were surprised to hear Charles introduce Savile as “my health adviser, Jimmy Savile”. This story once was also repeated to me once by an eye-witness of the event.
• The new wing of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital was opened by Princess Diana, accompanied by Prince Charles and Jimmy Savile, on August 4, 1983.
• Charles repeatedly wrote to Savile asking for advice on various health-related matters.

Handwritten letters from Charles, uncovered after Savile’s death in 2011, revealed a personal rapport, with Charles inviting Savile to dinners at Highgrove and Buckingham Palace. Moreover, Charles once thanked Savile for advice on a “health matter” and expressed his hope for his continued input.

During the 1980s, when Charles’ marriage to Diana was under strain, Savile was reportedly called upon to help. A 2012 report mentions Savile being asked to assist with damage control after a documentary painted the royal family in a negative light. Charles sent Savile a Christmas card in 2003, Cuban cigars and gold cufflinks for his 80th birthday with a note saying, “Nobody will ever know what you have done for this country, Jimmy”.  Charles also considered Savil for an official role as a media adviser and even as a potential godfather to Prince Harry in 1984.

Upon Savile’s death in October 2011, a Clarence House spokeswoman stated, “The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile’s death and their thoughts are with his family at this time.” In 2012, when Savile’s widespread sexual abuse finally was made public, no personal reaction by Charles is on record. A 2012 statement from Clarence House emphasized that Charles had no awareness of Savile’s criminal behavior.

Yet, allegations about Savile’s had been circulating for decades, e.g.:

• The first recorded incident of abuse linked to Savile dates back to 1955 in Manchester, where he managed a dance hall.
• While employed as a presenter on Top of the Pops and Jim’ll Fix It, rumors about Savile’s behavior with young girls were reportedly “common knowledge” within the BBC and among those who worked closely with him. A female victim reported to the police, for example, that she was assaulted by Savile, but the file was lost, and no action was taken.
• The earliest known police investigation into Savile occurred in 1958. It concluded there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges for sexual offenses.
• During the 1970s, Savile was a regular visitor to Duncroft, a girls’ school in Surrey for emotionally disturbed teenagers. There he abused girls, and one victim reported being placed in isolation for days after complaining about Savile’s inappropriate touching.
• In a 2000 TV documentary by Louis Theroux, Savile addressed rumors about being a pedophile and claimed his knighthood in 1990 cleared him of suspicion.
• Savile was interviewed under caution by police in 2007 regarding allegations of abuse.
• In 2008, he initiated legal action against a newspaper for linking him to abuse. The police investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge him.
• In 2009, the police investigated an assault at Duncroft School, but the Crown Prosecution Service determined there was not enough evidence to proceed.
• A 2011 Newsnight investigation into Savile’s actions was scheduled for broadcast on December 7, 2011, but was canceled by BBC executives.

The fact that Charles had so heavily and regularly relied on Savile for advice on various important matters, including healthcare, raises questions, I think, about common sense, due process, critical assessment and informed judgment – not only of Charles but also his of the presumably extensive staff in charge of guarding him

Main sources:

In Plain Sight: The Life and Lies of Jimmy Savile eBook : Davies, Dan: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Charles: The Heart of a King eBook : Mayer, Catherine: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Prince Charles’ Letters to Pedophile Jimmy Savile Revealed in Documentary

Jimmy Savile friendship with King Charles including sinister St James Palace incident ‘omitted’ from The Reckoning – Scottish Daily Express

Ithy – Understanding the Relationship Between Prince Charles and Jimmy Savile

Prince Charles wrote to Jimmy Savile for PR advice, newly revealed letters claim | The Independent

PS

I probably have missed several points and events; please let me know, if you know more.