King Charles has another headache on his hands — and this time, it’s coming from a courtroom, not a tabloid scandal.
According to reports and court filings, the monarch is said to be deeply upset after a legal dispute tied to a project connected to his charitable world exploded into a High Court battle worth roughly $8 million.
The drama centers on Amanda Navaian, an eco-fashion entrepreneur behind luxury handbag brand House of Marici. She has filed a claim alleging the King Charles Charitable Trust pulled out of a planned fundraising collaboration that she says would have been a major win for a sustainability-focused initiative.
Navaian argues the partnership was meant to include a run of T-shirts supporting the Coronation Food Project, a program aimed at redirecting surplus food from suppliers to communities in need.
She also claims plans included a high-profile fundraising dinner at CLAP in Knightsbridge — with celebrities and influencers expected — and says the event was curated by Olivia Buckingham, a stylist associated with Princess Beatrice.
Navaian’s claim also names food redistribution charity FareShare and Dori Dana-Haeri, who is described as chair of the project’s development committee.
The defendants deny the allegations.
Their lawyers have reportedly asked a judge to throw out the claim entirely, arguing it has no legal merit and that no binding agreement existed.
A High Court judge heard arguments from both sides and is expected to decide later whether the case moves forward.
Royal insiders claim the King is frustrated that a project linked to causes he cares about — sustainability, food redistribution, and charitable impact — is now getting dragged through public legal proceedings.
One source described the situation as especially difficult because Charles is already dealing with ongoing health concerns and the lingering fallout from other royal controversies, and he reportedly wanted his charitable work to stay far away from messy headlines.
Navaian, 43, told the court she approached the King’s charity in April 2024 because she admired Charles’ environmental principles and believed the collaboration aligned with his long-standing push for sustainability.
She claims House of Marici, founded in 2020, creates luxury handbags using discarded plant materials in an effort to avoid plastics. One of the brand’s higher-profile pieces, the Chelsea Stud shoulder bag, sells for $1,725.
In court, Navaian alleged the collaboration was discussed in a Zoom meeting that included Dana-Haeri and Dame Martina Milburn, chair of the Coronation Food Project.
She also claimed there was an oral agreement to move forward — and that the planned launch week could have generated major revenue, even suggesting sales could have topped $1 million.
She said the cancellation didn’t just hit her business. It hit her life.
For now, the fight remains in the judge’s hands.
The court has heard submissions, and Mr Justice Mansfield has said he will reserve his decision and issue a ruling at a later date — meaning the royal-adjacent legal storm may be far from over.
