Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Spy in Latifa escape bid takes legal action
ACCUSER Jaubert
EXCLUSIVE PATRICK HILL
A FRENCH ex-spy who tried to help smuggle Princess Latifa out of Dubai says he has launched legal action against her father’s regime and India for storming his yacht to capture her.
Herve Jaubert, 64, claims the attack in 2018 – in which he was seized along with Latifa and a Finnish friend – happened in international waters. He said: “I have filed documentation in court against the UAE. What they did was piracy.”
The princess had contacted Jaubert after reading his book about fleeing the UAE disguised in a burqa. She boarded a dinghy off the coast of Oman before Jaubert met her in the Arabian Sea with jet skis which they rode 15 miles to the yacht. They were on their way to India when they were boarded by Indian commandos.
He claims he was held for 10 days and threatened with torture. Latifa has not been seen since. Jaubert – who says he is in talks to make a movie about the incident – refused to reveal where he filed the court action.
POWER COUPLE Sussexes will be big in America
MASKED Prince Charles
PRINCE Charles was allowed to see his father yesterday as the 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh spent his fifth day in hospital.
The heir to the throne, 72, appeared emotional as he was driven away from London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital shortly before 4pm. The hospital previously said bosses were following Covid guidelines, which say that visitors are only allowed in “exceptional circumstances”. A palace source yesterday said Prince Philip, inset, had been in hospital “for longer than expected” and is set to stay there until next week.
THE late comedian Caroline Aherne will be remembered in a moving tribute show as part of the BBC’s Festival of Funny.
Her former Fast Show colleague John Thomson will present some of Caroline’s best clips in a programme called Caroline Aherne At The BBC. The half-hour show will include scenes from The Mrs Merton Show and The Royle Family.
Caroline – who also provided voiceovers on Gogglebox for Channel 4 – was just 52 when she died of lung cancer in July 2016. Her tribute show will be aired some time between late February and mid-March as comedy takes over much of the corporation’s output.
A similar celebration of Tommy Cooper’s work at the BBC will be presented by Sir Lenny Henry. The Beeb will also broadcast the 2014 90-minute special Dave Allen On Life, the 2018 two-part series Billy Connolly Made in Scotland and Victoria Wood’s 2001 stand-up show, Victoria at the Albert.