JORDANWIKILEAKS خبايا واسرار ملفات الفساد في الاردن: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertynews/9042297/King-Abdullah-of-Jordans-8million-court-battle-over-question-of-courtesy.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertynews/9042297/King-Abdullah-of-Jordans-8million-court-battle-over-question-of-courtesy.html

Accessibility links
Skip to article
Skip to navigation

Advertisement

Sunday 29 January 2012

Log in | Register | Subscribe

Telegraph.co.uk

Home
News
Sport
Finance
Comment
Blogs
Culture
Travel
Lifestyle
Fashion
Tech

Dating
Offers
Jobs

Motoring
Health
Property
Gardening
Food and Drink
Family
Relationships
Expat
Puzzles
Announcements

Property News
Overseas Property
Green Property
Interiors and Shopping
Period Property
Renovating and DIY
Property Search

Home»
Property»
Property News

King Abdullah of Jordan's £8million court battle over question of courtesy
King Abdullah of Jordan is suing the trustees of a London estate for allegedly refusing to honour a 'gentlemen’s agreement'.

King Abdullah is said to be 'deeply troubled' by the expensive legal case. Photo: YOUSEF ALLAN

By Tim Walker

7:30AM GMT 27 Jan 2012

12 Comments

Is the “gentlemen’s agreement” dead? King Abdullah of Jordan has begun an £8million battle in the High Court in the hope that it is not.

The Sandhurst-trained monarch is suing the Phillimore Estate over the ownership of two houses in Kensington. He claims that the trustees of the estate refused to honour a “gentlemen’s agreement” made in 1996, a year after he bought the leaseholds of two adjoining houses.

The king alleges that this agreement obliges the trustees to transfer the freeholds of the two properties to him when he pays £500,000 for each. They strongly dispute this.

“It is a deeply troubling state of affairs for the king,” his solicitor, Dr Jamal Nasir, tells Mandrake. “The king has enjoyed a good relationship with those who look after Upper Phillimore Gardens, until now. They are failing to honour their gentlemen’s agreement.” Dr Nasir says the king has spent up to £5million on renovating the houses.

Abdullah, who turns 50 next week, is also suing the trustees of the estate – Francis Carnwath, Michael Chamberlayne and John Russell – for damages of £8million. The trustees’ solicitor, Paul Roberts, of Forsters, says his clients will contest the king's claim. He says any “gentlemen’s agreement which may or may not have been made is spurious” and “can’t be upheld in a court of law”.

Related Articles

King Abdullah of Jordan calls on Syria's Assad to go14 Nov 2011

Jordan's King Abdullah visits West Bank for first time in decade21 Nov 2011

Carol Vorderman learns to fly... with no support27 Jan 2012

He adds: “My clients accept that his leasehold lasts until the year 2064. That is not in contention. However, they are not obliged in any way to sell him the freehold.”

A spokesman for King Abdullah assures me that the houses belong to him not personally, but in his capacity as head of state and remain the property of the state of Jordan.

The case will be watched closely by the king’s neighbour, Elena Franchuk, a friend of Sir Elton John. The Ukranian businesswoman and philanthropist lives in a 10-bedroom villa, which features an underground swimming pool, gym, sauna and cinema. The villa became the world’s most expensive home when it was bought for £80 million in 2008.

X Share & bookmark
DeliciousFacebookGoogleMessengerRedditTwitter
DiggFarkLinkedInGoogle BuzzStumbleUponY! Buzz
What are these?
Share:Share

inShare13

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertynews/9042297/King-Abdullah-of-Jordans-8million-court-battle-over-question-of-courtesy.html
Telegraph

Property News

News »

World News »

Middle East »

Jordan »

UK News »

In Property News

Homes from above

Record breaking bridges

The world's top 20 cities to buy-to-let

Historic Tower Bridge photos found in skip

Quirky houses around the world

X Share & bookmark
DeliciousFacebookGoogleMessengerRedditTwitter
DiggFarkLinkedInGoogle BuzzStumbleUponY! Buzz
What are these?Share:

inShare13

Related Links

You might like:
Couples having sex in public let off with a leaflet27 Jan 2012Telegraph News
Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone drives neighbours mad28 Jan 2012Telegraph Property
Britain's 'tackiest house' sells after six years28 Jan 2012Telegraph Property

From the Web
Selected for you by our sponsor:
Aging Gracefully, Or Not - 8 Mistakes Made by Older Adults and Their Families Due to Fear of Aging31 Dec 1969More.com
10 Surprising Ways to Avoid Nursing Home Care12 Oct 2010Caring.com
Ten Worst Foods for Prostate Health08 Apr 2011CooperativeHealth
[what's this]

Advertisement

Ads by Google

Expatriate Savings Advice

Get The Best Interest Rates On Your Savings, Investments & UK Pension.

www.OffshoreInvestmentDesigner.com

Expat? £100K+ UK Pension?

Use Your Expat Status! Download A Free Guide To QROPS & Expert Advice

your.QROPSchoices.com/Telegraph

Are you Moving?

We are ready to asssit you if you are moving to or from Jordan

www.moving.gac.com
<img height="1" width="1" border="0" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imp.gif?client=ca-telegraph_uk_420x200&event=noscript" alt=""/>

telegraphuk

12 comments

Add a comment
Comment with a Telegraph accountLogin | Register with the Telegraph
Alternatively...
Comment with one of your accounts

Showing 12 comments
Order by

Real-time updating is enabled. (Pause)
0 new comment was just posted. Show

Follow with email

Follow with RSS

Asma Alam

01/27/2012 09:32 PM

bottom line is , The King is the head of a state, therefore these houses were registered in his name to insure payment. pls check your sources and do your homework.

Faisal Almomani

01/27/2012 08:55 PM

If anyone has been to London, one would know that the building belongs to the Embassy and Military Attaché building. Stop the lies & sensationalism .... I believe you owe the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan an apology

Hanin Abu-Shamat

01/27/2012 07:07 PM

LOL! This is actually funny, you do know that these are houses of the government no? Consulate and Embassy! Tsk tsk tsk. Lame article.

Zweina Madi

01/27/2012 06:58 PM

The property in question is the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and not private property of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and as per the law of your country in 1947 when the property was rented, it had to be registered in the name of the head of state to ensure payment, and not in the name of the country or government. An esteemed news establishment such as the Daily Telegraph should have researched the story more thoroughly prior to publishing. I believe you owe the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan an apology.

SandraJezrawi

01/27/2012 06:45 PM

I agree with zaid majali you should do your homework and know those are properties of Jordanian government representing the Jordan embassy in UK. I guess an apology is needed from your newspaper to our Country Jordan.

Zaid Almajali

01/27/2012 06:05 PM

I guess that a respectful newspaper should know the difference between the property of HM King Abdullah and the property of Jordanian government, those buildings represent the Jordanian Embassy !

alaa yusif

01/27/2012 05:40 PM

@Zaid785 ما في مغفل الا انت يا زيد ..يا كاره الاردن . والخبر الصحيح . للذي لم يزور لندن، هذا مبنى السفارة والملحقية العسكرية وليس بيت جلالة الملك.يكفينا اثارة

Sayed Makkawi

01/27/2012 02:16 PM

Jordanians with a monthly average income of less than $200 must boycott buying houses in kensingston .
Now Jordanians know why the king is not doing anything to fight or disclose huge corruption files ( the ones that were not completely destroyed by fire .. according to a high Jordanian official ) because he is busy with the lawsuit.
Talking about fire and lawsuit, a young Jordanian ( around 20 years old ) was sentenced to two years in prison for burning the king's picture.

simon21

01/27/2012 11:21 AM

The dispute is easily resolved. The Government could declare teh UK will not accept money from Kings, dictators, torturers, and assorted pooh-bahs.

But that would involve moral courage

rugby_loving_english_man

01/27/2012 10:17 AM

There is far too much tainted Islamic money in London.

knowitall

01/27/2012 12:12 PM

Yes there is! .... but who gave it to them ???

simon21

01/27/2012 11:19 AM

Far too much tainted white money too

Recommended by 1 person
Recommend
Report

Social Media Reactions

zakariahammouri on

twitter

Yesterday 09:29 PM

King Abdullah of Jordan's £8million court battle over question of courtesy - Telegraph http://t.co/8FnBAkUq via @Telegraph

LahibBaniSakher on

twitter

Yesterday 03:07 PM

King Abdullah of Jordan's £8M court battle over question of courtesy.He's spent up 2 £5M on renovation http://t.co/Q2svaC3j #Reformjo #Jo

Shahzeydo on

twitter

Yesterday 12:24 PM

Thinking this problematic claim (re: #Jo London Embassy) might end in a diplomatic 'out of court' settlement: http://t.co/9aInkKG9

VGDakessian on

twitter

Yesterday 10:16 AM

King Abdullah of #Jordan £8million court battle over question of courtesy - Telegraph http://t.co/acqs1YDU via @Telegraph a different angle

HanadiOZ on

twitter

Yesterday 09:12 AM

King Abdullah of Jordan's £8million court battle over question of courtesy - Telegraph http://t.co/m6VqnLtH #JO

ukpapers on

twitter

01/27/2012 11:15 PM

King Abdullah of #Jordan's £8million court battle over question of courtesy - http://t.co/VicVfmvf @Telegraph

samerbagaeen on

twitter

01/27/2012 10:25 PM

King Abdullah of Jordan's £8million court battle over question of courtesy - Telegraph http://t.co/tvop7DTJ via @Telegraph

InasBseiso on

twitter

01/27/2012 08:47 PM

RT @eman: King Abdullah of Jordan's £8million court battle over question of courtesy http://t.co/WRsL97cW #JO

Zweina Madi on

twitter

01/27/2012 07:11 PM

When @Telegraph doesn't do its research! Its the Jordanian Embassy! King Abdullah £8million court battle.... http://t.co/po7x8jIc #ReformJO

ArabMediaWatch on

twitter

01/27/2012 07:05 PM

King Abdullah of Jordan's £8million court battle over question of courtesy - Telegraph http://t.co/zFLE4uAQ via @Telegraph

Please enable JavaScript to view the <a href="http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript=telegraphuk">comments powered by Disqus.</a>blog comments powered by Disqus

Advertisement

TELEGRAPH INSURANCE

Loading

High net worth insurance

Telegraph Masterpiece Insurance offers the certainty of Chubb’s Masterpiece policy.

Telegraph Landlords insurance

Compare landlord insurance for your rental property with the Telegraph.

Advertisement

Featured Advertising

UK Homes
Overseas
Gifts
Loading

Putney Park Avenue, London SW15

Stunning newly built house: 6 bedrooms, cinema, gym/sauna, Coach house, garaging Guide £6.95 million

B&B Italia Winter Sale 7th Jan - 5th Feb 2012

Showroom models, discontinued stock and accessories at special prices. B&B Italia Store London info@bebitalia.co.uk

Luxury French Property from Home Hunts

Thousands of properties for sale on the French Riviera, Provence, Alps, Paris and all of Southern France

We are the only agent with a multi-lingual website

Discover how the Knight Frank global search could show your property to the world!

FREE personalised ceramic mug

Create one of our ceramic mugs for FREE. With high-quality, full-colour printing and 36 designs to choose from these mugs make a great gift.