Millionaire donor tried to sell private meetings with Prince William for $27,000: report
Prince William has cut ties with a donor to his charities after it was revealed that she tried to sell private meetings with the British royal for 20,000 pounds (more than $27,000). Minerva Mondejar Steiner, a millionaire art gallery curator who sponsored William's annual polo fundraiser, sent out 'cash for access' invites to ultra-wealthy patrons, promising a meeting with the future king in exchange for cash. Britain's Prince William offered up for $27,000 in 'cash for access' scandal.(REUTERS)
According to a report in The Sunday Times, Steiner was an official sponsor of William's annual charitable polo event and offered access to the prince at the polo match.
She also offered 'VVIP tickets' and 'access to royalty' to advertisers willing to shell out 50,000 pounds for a feature in a magazine that would be handed out at the event. What is the polo event at the centre of this row?
The Royal Charity Polo Cup, an exclusive, invitation-only event held in Windsor, is set to return next month. Over the past 15 years, the event has helped raise more than 13 million pounds for charitable causes supported by the prince, who regularly takes part in the match.
At this match, millionaire donors can watch the Prince of Wales play polo and are expected to donate generously to causes close to him. What did Minerva Mondejar Steiner offer?
Minerva Mondejar Steiner, a 45-year-old Filipina-Swiss millionaire, offered a private meeting with Prince William to people willing to donate to her own philanthropic organisation.
In her email sent to 'wealthy individuals belonging to a luxury concierge service', she wrote: 'As a patron of the Mondejar Foundation, you are invited to support their philanthropic work through a charitable donation, in return for which you will be welcomed to this prestigious occasion.
'Patron contributions: £6,000 — admission for one patron. £20,000 — includes full access plus a private audience with Prince William and Princess Catherine.
'The attached invitation is for your eyes only and not to be shared publicly or on social media,' the email said, according to The Sunday Times.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Himesh Reshammiya Reviews ‘Heads Of State' With Suroor; Praises Priyanka Chopra, John Cena & Idris Elba
Himesh Reshammiya turns reviewer for Heads Of State, calling it an 'action mixtape' with 'seeti-worthy moments.' Premieres July 2 on Prime Video. Known for his musical flair and unforgettable screen presence, Himesh Reshammiya just turned movie reviewing into an entertainment spectacle. The singer-composer-actor broke the internet with his hilariously unique take on Heads Of State, Prime Video's upcoming action-comedy starring global icons Priyanka Chopra Jonas, John Cena, and Idris Elba. In a laugh-out-loud segment titled 'Reviews-E-Reshammiya", Himesh brought his signature suroor to the film's promo, delivering his review surrounded by paparazzi, mid-song, and with witty one-liners that had fans in splits. Describing Heads Of State as an 'action mixtape" full of 'seeti-worthy moments," the rockstar couldn't help but burst into his hit number Aashiq Banaya Aapne while showering praise on the film's power-packed trio. He called John Cena and Idris Elba 'deadly dudes" and declared Priyanka Chopra's presence as the ultimate desi tadka. Heads Of State, directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry), promises a whirlwind of political chaos and buddy-comedy madness. The story follows U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) and British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), whose not-so-secret rivalry is forced to take a backseat when Air Force One is shot down over enemy territory. With MI6 Agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) tasked with their protection, the three must work together to stop a global conspiracy threatening the free world. Also featuring Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, and Sarah Niles, the film blends political satire with pulse-pounding action and laugh-out-loud moments. It is set to premiere globally on July 2 on Prime Video, available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. With Himesh Reshammiya's musical blessing and a star cast that packs a punch, Heads Of State is poised to be one of the most explosive and entertaining OTT premieres of the year. First Published: June 30, 2025, 17:19 IST
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
BBC says it should have pulled livestream of Bob Vylan's act over antisemitic chants at Glastonbury
The BBC said on Monday (June 30, 2025) it should have pulled a livestream of rap group Bob Vylan's performance at Glastonbury Festival over antisemitic chants against Israeli troops. The British broadcaster has come under heavy criticism for broadcasting the rap punk duo's performance on Saturday (June 28, 2025), when rapper Bobby Vylan led crowds attending the U.K.'s largest summer music festival in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF,' the Israel Defense Forces. The BBC said on Monday that it 'respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence.' 'The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves,' it said. Broadcaster faces backlash British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the chants, saying there was no excuse for such 'appalling hate speech.' 'The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast,' Mr. Starmer said. Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, also said it was 'very concerned' about the BBC livestream and said the broadcaster 'clearly has questions to answer.' The BBC said earlier in its defence that it had issued a warning on screen about 'very strong and discriminatory language' during the livestream. Rap group releases statement Bob Vylan, who formed in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class. Its two members both keep their real names secret for privacy reasons. In a statement posted on social media, Bobby Vylan said: 'Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place." More than 6,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 injured in Gaza since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed in March. Since the war began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel, Israeli attacks have killed more than 56,000 people and injured 1,32,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Death To IDF': Trump to Revoke Bob Vylan's Visa After Anti-Israel Chant?
British rap duo Bob Vylan is facing potential visa revocation by the U.S. State Department ahead of their planned U.S. tour. This comes after their controversial performance at England's Glastonbury Music Festival, where they chanted "Death to the IDF" and "Free, Free Palestine!" The punk duo's anti-Israel lyrics, broadcast live by the BBC (and since removed), have ignited a firestorm, with critics accusing them of inciting violence against Israeli soldiers. Watch. Read More
