Late king’s son was the prince robbed in Paris

The mystery prince whose convoy was robbed by masked gunmen on the northern edge of Paris turns out to be the youngest and reportedly favorite son of the late King

Fahd of Saudi Arabia. The police have refused to identify the Saudi royal in question, but the French news media on Tuesday reported that he was Prince Abdul Aziz, 41, who is known for his extravagant taste.

The prince travels with 50 bodyguards and servants, according to experts who have studied the kingdom, has property holdings across the United States and Europe, and a personal fortune estimated in the billions of dollars.

On Sunday, according to Le Monde, the prince was concluding a getaway that included a 45-day stay at the palatial Four Seasons Hotel George V, one of the world’s most expensive hotels. As he traveled in a convoy to Le Bourget airport to leave in a private jet, the lead car, a Mercedes minivan, was stopped by eight armed men.

While the prince was safely seated in another car, the thieves hijacked the minivan, with a Saudi driver, bodyguard and attendant still inside before making off with about $335,000 in cash stuffed in a suitcase in the trunk. The thieves also took documents the French news media described as sensitive, even as the Saudi Embassy emphatically denied that important documents were stolen.