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The Prince of Wales would be "happy" to help new Metropolitan Police investigation into an alleged cash-for-honours scandal launched after he and a former close confidant were reported to officers over the claims.

Anti-monarchy group Republic made a formal complaint to Met detectives about the heir to the throne and Michael Fawcett last September, following a series of newspaper articles alleging a donor to The Prince's Foundation was offered help securing a knighthood.

At the time Clarence House said the prince had "no knowledge" of the alleged cash-for-honours scandal.

On Wednesday, the Met announced there was just cause to launch an investigation into the affair.

Fawcett, who has since resigned as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation in the wake of the alleged scandal, had been accused of promising to help Saudi billionaire donor Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz achieve British citizenship and a knighthood.

A source said about the police investigation said: "His Royal Highness is happy to help if asked. He has not been."

The royal family has already seen its reputation bruised by the Duke of York's sexual assault civil case, which was settled out of court this week, and now there is the prospect of further damage with the launch of the Met Police probe.

Pressure group Republic contacted Scotland Yard and reported both the future king and Fawcett, Charles's former valet, on suspicion of breaching the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.

Ex-Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker also wrote to the Met asking the force to launch a criminal probe into the allegations made against the former royal confidant.

The police investigation comes just days after Dame Cressida Dick - who had said they had no plans to investigate the matter - resigned from her role as commissioner.

Last autumn, the Mail on Sunday published a letter from 2017 in which Fawcett reportedly wrote that he was willing to make an application to change businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz's honorary CBE to a knighthood, and support his application for citizenship.

The letter, written on headed notepaper in Fawcett's then capacity as chief executive of the Dumfries House Trust, said the applications would be made in response to "the most recent and anticipated support" of the trust.

Mahfouz, is reported to have donated large sums to restoration projects of particular interest to Charles. He is said to deny any wrongdoing himself.

The Prince's Foundation commissioned an independent investigation into the allegations, which found evidence of Fawcett's "communications and co-ordination" with "so-called 'fixers' regarding honorary nominations for a donor between 2014-18".

Scotland Yard said police had reviewed the independent investigation into fundraising practices and "determined an investigation will commence".

There have been no arrests or interviews under caution, it added.

Charles is president of the foundation but not involved with its governance, with the charity's trustees overseeing its day-to-day activities.

Clarence House reiterated its previous statement: "The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities."

© PAA 2022

A man has been charged with murder following the death of a 16-month-old boy north of Brisbane last month.

Paramedics were called to a Burpengary address on the afternoon of December 30 in relation to the medical welfare of a child.

The boy was transported to hospital in a critical condition and died just over a week later, with the cause of death still unknown.

He was at home with his mother and his mother's partner before emergency services arrived, Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Zitny said on Wednesday.

"Due to the tragic circumstances of what we believe happened at that location, the child has passed," he said.

On Wednesday evening police said a 33-year-old man had been charged with murder (Domestic Violence Offence) and was scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

© AAP 2022

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale has urged the AFL to make a brave call and admit Tasmania as the competition's 19th club.

The AFL and club presidents will meet in March to decide whether a Tasmanian team should be created.

Gale, a proud Tasmanian, is the latest high-profile name to throw his support behind the state's bid for an AFL license.

Tipped by some as an ideal candidate to be the next AFL chief executive when Gillon McLachlan bows out, Gale is a staunch advocate for another club.

"I'm biased (as someone who grew up in Tasmania), but I'd love to see a Tasmanian team," Gale told SEN.

"They've got a legitimate right to be in the competition - where there's a will, there's a way.

"It's not without complexity, clearly, but I think it would only boost our credentials as a truly national competition.

"I just think it would be accretive to the entire undertaking of Australian Rules Football."

Gale agreed there were some parallels with the AFL expanding the women's competition, with the 2023 season to include all 18 clubs, up from just eight in the inaugural campaign in 2017.

"One of the great decisions the AFL, and probably Gil (McLachlan), made is they just threw caution to the wind," Gale said.

"I think the AFLW competition was earmarked (to start) in maybe '19 or '20, but in 2014-15, they said 'let's just do it'.

"Sometimes that's the best way to lead.

"We've figured it out through trial and error and it's a bloody good comp."

An independent report on the merits of a club in Tasmania, conducted by former Geelong president Colin Carter, was released last year and found the state deserves to be represented with a club.

Four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has been working with the Tasmanian AFL taskforce since leaving the Hawks at the end of last season.

Clarkson has said Tasmania deserves its own team by 2026 at the latest.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, who will meet with Clarkson on Thursday, said he was confident the island state would get the green tick.

"We're working through a process now with the AFL. And it's one both parties have engaged in very positively," he told reporters.

Possibly counting against the bid is the giant cost of keeping the AFL running during COVID-19.

The AFL revealed on Tuesday it had spent $76 million during the past two years as a result of the pandemic.

However, initial fears of the league losing up to $1 billion when the competition was shut down in March 2020 did not eventuate.

GWS, in 2012, was the last club admitted into the AFL.

© AAP 2022