For four years, Laura Ashley heiress ANGELINE FRANCIS KHOO was caught in the middle of her parents’ high-profile, multimillion-pound divorce. She talks exclusively to about forgiving her father and giving up money for love

Victoria Woodhall

Although she grew up with bodyguards, private jets and homes on three continents, it was only when Angeline Francis Khoo’s father’s wealth was disclosed in court during her parents’ titanic, multimillion-pound divorce hearing that she realised its true, eye-watering scale. ‘Of course, I knew he was extremely wealthy; he is a major shareholder in Laura Ashley and hotels [the luxury international hotel group Corus, including the Corus Hyde Park], among other things. But I only became aware of the scale of his wealth during the divorce, because the lawyers had been meticulous. When you see the evidence, it’s, like, “Oh my goodness!”’ says the 34-year-old fashion designer, the fourth of her parents’ five children.

Neither party could agree the precise sum they began fighting over in 2013, but judge Mr Justice Bodey noted: ‘Whatever the precise extent of the husband’s wealth, there is enough in the kitty for it to be said with confidence that they would be hard pushed to spend it all in their lifetimes, even if they wanted to.’ Finally, in April this year, at the Family Division of the High Court, Justice Bodey awarded Angeline’s mother Pauline Chai a £64 million settlement in her divorce from business tycoon Dr Khoo Kay Peng after 42 years of marriage. Khoo has since applied for permission to appeal the decision.

Angeline, who lives in London with her husband Jedidiah, spent university summers working with her father at Laura Ashley in preparation for a career in the family firm. Khoo’s company

Angeline in front of Rossway Park, the 15-bedroom family home