Prince Charles sabotage accusations

May 18, 2010, 12:10 GMT

Britain's Prince Charles has been accused of sabotaging a £3 billion property scheme.

The royal was accused of causing the collapse of the Chelsea Barracks £3 billion housing project because of his "notorious opposition" of modern architecture, in the High Court in London yesterday (17.05.10).

Property moguls Nick and Christian Candy - of the CPC Group - claim the Qatari Royal Family withdrew their investment in the residential project after the royal allegedly made a private deal for them to pull out as he gave his personal opinion on the design.

The brothers claim their company is consequentially owed £81 million promised to them by the Qatari Diar.

The High Court heard that the Prince of Wales told the Gulf's state's prime minister - who is also a cousin of the Emir of Qatar and the chairman of the development firm - his "heart sank" when he saw the designs for the former army barracks were to be turned into a "glass and concrete" building.

Mr. Candy's barrister, Lord Grabiner-QC, told the High Court: "Prince Charles told His Excellency (the Qatari PM) that his heart sank when he saw Lord Rogers' scheme."

Charles wrote to the PM in March last year where he urged him to "reconsider" the designs.

It is also alleged the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, told the prince he would change the planned design for the building during private talks at Clarence House in May last year where they were joined by the royal's private secretary, Sir Michael Peat.

The Emir then apparently telephoned the managing director of Qatari Diar Ghanim bin Saad al Saad and asked to change the plan for the building.

The hearing continues.