Widow of Saudi king wins court battle over London home

The widow of Saudi King Fahd has won a five-year legal battle over the ownership of a 10-bedroom mansion in London.

The High Court ruled in favour of Aljawharah Al Ibrahim in the case over Kenstead Hall on Bishops Avenue, one of the British capital’s most expensive streets.

The property had been signed over to her in 2011 by the Liechtenstein-based Asturion Foundation, set up to manage the late king’s foreign property portfolio.

Also signed over were properties in France, Germany and Spain.

But the foundation challenged the transfer.

The court heard that King Fahd had instructed his adviser Faisal Assaly to transfer the four properties under his wife’s name in 2001.

However, Mr Assaly did not finish doing so until 2012, seven years after the king’s death in August 2005.

After his death a council of heirs was created to manage his affairs.

“The delays at least partly reflect a question which developed about whether consent of the council of heirs was needed, and had been given, before the transfers could be effected,” judge Adam Johnson said.

“Mr Assaly determined that he should proceed in light of the instructions given to him by the late king, and did so.”

The foundation had argued that its purpose was to distribute the late king’s assets to his heirs.

But Mr Johnson ruled there was “no improper disposal of the foundation’s assets” and “no mistake by Mr Assaly about either his entitlement or obligation to transfer Kenstead Hall”.

“He was both entitled and obliged to act as he did. Consequently, there was no mistake of sufficient seriousness to create an equity entitling the foundation to rescind the transfer of Kenstead Hall to the princess.”