The revelation comes amid days of speculation about Mr Johnson’s involvement in his wife’s career – after allegations that he tried to appoint her chief of staff at the Foreign Office for £ 100,000 a year while he was foreign minister and their relationship was not public after all.
The allegations were briefly published in The Times on Saturday, but were removed from later editions of the newspaper after the intervention of No. 10, which categorically denied that the prime minister had proposed the appointment.
On Tuesday, the Daily Mirror reported that Ms. Johnson had also been discussed on Downing Street for a role in the Royal Foundation, but no approach had ever been taken.
But The Telegraph understands that Mr Case was in fact instructed to contact the charity run by his former bosses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
It is alleged that the civil servant asked the foundation if Ms. Johnson would be suitable for the role and if she could expect to be paid.
Downing Street on Tuesday night denied that the Prime Minister himself had ordered Mr Case to contact the charity, but did not deny that he had taken part in discussions about it or that Mr Case had done so.
A spokesman said: “The prime minister has never recommended Ms. Johnson for a state role or as part of the Earthshot Award.
“No jobs offered”
A source familiar with the discussions said Mr Case had been “tasked with seeing if there was room for improvement”, but was “quietly reprimanded for the idea of working closely with royalty” and the idea was “Kicked in the long grass.”
A second source added: “The prime minister may have offered it, but it has certainly not been offered anything. No jobs were offered. “
By this time, Ms. Johnson had already begun discussions with the Aspinall Foundation, an animal welfare charity that she joined months later, in February 2021, before their marriage in May.
Ms Johnson’s spokeswoman last night denied allegations that she had been discussed for the royal post, although there is no suggestion that she had ever formally applied for the role or knew that her husband’s advisers had suggested the idea.
“The prime minister was wondering if there was anything he could do, but I don’t think he was aware of any of it,” said a third source familiar with the discussions.
Regular place in the General Information
Allegations of Mr Johnson’s involvement in finding his wife’s job have already been discussed in parliament, with a Liberal Democrat MP picking up the original Times story in parliament on Monday.
Lord Hyde, Mr Johnson’s recently retired ethics adviser, told The Telegraph that the allegations were “ripe” for investigation by his successor, who has not yet been appointed.
On Tuesday, Michael Ellis, the government’s chief payer, rejected Labor calls for a new councilor to be appointed by MPs if Downing Street does not elect one within two months.
“We will act quickly to review existing arrangements in support of the ministerial code and ensure high standards for ministers,” he said.
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