Bribes scandal at the Royal Palaces

A manager of the Royal palaces was paid slush money in exchange for lucrative and prestigious contracts, a court heard. Ronald Harper, 64, was in charge of maintaining Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, St James’ Palace and Windsor Castle. The work was funded by the Civil List, now called the Sovereign Grant, and came straight out of taxpayer’s pockets. For six years Harper was paid bribes of more than £100,000 by Bernard Gackowski, 64, to favour heating, building and energy firms….