Latest news with #Antibes
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
The British caretaker taking on a Saudi prince
A Saudi prince has been ordered to pay the British caretaker of his palatial Paris home €200,000 (£170,000). The company handling Prince Fahd bin Sultan al-Saud's French affairs failed to pay Mark James's wages for months, The Telegraph has learnt. Mr James, 45, from Hitchin, Herts, has still not been paid 'a centime', despite the ruling by the Paris workers' tribunal in April, according to his lawyers. The hearing in the French capital is one among a raft of creditors' attempts to recover funds from Prince Fahd. Several of his multimillion-pound assets in Paris, London and Megève, the upmarket French Alpine ski resort, have been seized, along with a luxury yacht. The 74 year-old is the son of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the late crown prince of Saudi Arabia. He was the Saudi defence minister from 1962 to 2011 and is currently the governor of Tabuk province. Raymond Rudio, Mr James's lawyer, said the prince appeared to be the latest royal to fall foul of the 'squeeze' by Mohammed bin Salman. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, known as MBS, has cut funding to his sprawling family – a purge that started in 2017 and landed some of them in jail. 'I was told his lavish lifestyle had been considerably reduced after his cousin MBS cut funds,' Mr Rudio said. Mr James, who is now based in Antibes on the French Riviera, managed a three-storey mansion at 36 Cours Albert 1 in Paris's plush 8th arrondissement for the prince. The property sits next to the Brazilian embassy, commands a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower and boasts a specially redesigned roof terrace and an underground swimming pool. However, there is reportedly no hot water at the 637 sq metre (6,857 sq ft) property because the gas bills have not been paid, the lift no longer works and the swimming pool is unusable due to a faulty pump. It is thought the property will soon be up for auction. Credit Suisse, Prince Fahd's main creditor, seized his chalet in Megève in the French Alps in 2023. In a separate London court hearing the previous year, the bank argued the prince had failed to repay around $78 million (£57 million) in interest and loans he took out to refinance Sarafsa, a 269ft British-made yacht, which locals claimed had been 'left to rot' in the Mediterranean off Monaco. With an asking price of £65 million, the six-decker yacht was sold in 2023. It houses two massive formal dining salons, a large swimming pool and beauty salon, a wellness area with a jacuzzi, hamam, sauna and gym, a cinema and a touch-and-go helipad. The bank also accused the prince of allegedly failing to pay part of the loan, plus interest, for a mansion property estate outside London with a golf course, estimated at $47 million (£34 million). He was the guarantor for the loans that two companies took out and the beneficiary of the assets. In April, local police reportedly seized the British property's furniture, according to Paris personnel, who claimed that several people working for the prince in the UK had also not been paid. In April, the Paris tribunal ordered the prince via a company called Sofici, which belongs to the royal via offshore companies, to give Mr James €200,000 (£171,000) in pay and damages for his 'dismissal without real or serious cause'. A previous ruling ordering the company to pay an initial instalment of €70,000 (£60,000) had no effect, despite a penalty of €1,000 (£850) per day of delay. The court quashed claims by the prince's lawyer that the prince had no 'contractual relationship' with the unpaid domestic staff and was merely the 'exclusive tenant' of the Paris mansion. But Mr James says he has still not received the money and his lawyer said bailiffs had failed to seize funds from any accounts belonging to Sofici as they are said to be empty. 'They believed his promises' In May, the property's butler and maitre d'hotel also took the prince to the industrial tribunal for failing to pay them or provide payslips for over a year. On the eve of the May 21 hearing, the prince finally paid the sums owed, respectively €58,000 (£50,000) and €82,000 (£70,000). 'They are sad not to continue working for the prince. They waited a very long time before filing a complaint because they believed his promises that he would pay up,' said Mr Rudio. The prince failed to provide payslips, meaning the butler and maitre'd could not claim any social security or pension. The tribunal ordered him to do so. In the absence of a contract, the staff members are still employees of the prince and can thus continue to claim wages, said Mr Rudio. He argued that the tribunal and URSSAF, France's main body responsible for collecting social security contributions in France agency had been too soft on the prince. 'Any local garage owner would be prosecuted immediately. Prince Fahd appears to have been given preferential treatment,' he said. Prince Fahd is by no means the only Saudi royal chased by creditors. In January, a property owned by the family of his brother Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud was sold to a mystery buyer for £139 million after creditors demanded repayment of a loan for a private jet. Dubbed 'Little Buckingham Palace', the Holme, which sits alone in four private acres of Regents Park in Central London, went for just over half its asking price of £250 million, which would have made it Britain's most expensive home. The lawns of the 40-bedroom house sweep down to the park's boating lake and the 200-year-old home has been described as the 'definition of Western civilisation' by one architectural critic. It was put on the market in 2023. Prince Khaled also sold his £70 million home in Paris, according to The Wall Street Journal, and is thought to have sold two expensive yachts. 'All these princes were used to millions, now they have to make do with hundreds of thousands,' one 'intermediary' told Libérarion newspaper. MBS has made purges of his many cousins a hallmark of his rise to power, beginning with his removal of Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, known as MBN, whom he replaced as crown prince in 2017. MBN has since been arrested, while scores of other princes have been seized and forced into making financial settlements with the government over corruption charges. There are said to be at least 10,000 members of the Saudi Arabian royal family. Others are alleged to have been forced to come back to Saudi Arabia against their will and in hazy circumstances before disappearing into the prison system. This week, Mr James's lawyer said Sofici, Prince Fahd's company, notified him it intended to challenge the ruling at the Paris appeals court. Sofici's law firm, LX Paris Versailles Reims, declined to comment.
Vogue
5 days ago
- Vogue
The Best Airbnbs in the French Riviera Are Brimming with Mediterranean Charm
A five-hour train ride from Paris and an even shorter jaunt from Northern Italy, the Côte d'Azur is a perennial summer hot spot, from the first snaps of the Cannes Film Festival in May right through the final beach chairs being packed up in September. An under-the-radar travel destination it is not. But that doesn't mean it's not worth exploring: New hotel openings bring life to old-fashioned luxury stays, and the off-season traveler will still find plenty to do in the winter. And for a true local experience, consider a stay in one of the best Airbnbs in the French Riviera. Vogue's Favorite Airbnbs in the French Riviera: For an Old-town Stay: Atypical Duplex in Antibes, from $290 a night Atypical Duplex in Antibes, from $290 a night For a Charming City Gem : Fisherman's House in Cannes, from $288 a night : Fisherman's House in Cannes, from $288 a night For a Mediterranean Villa: Luxury Townhouse in St. Paul de Vence, from $910 a night Luxury Townhouse in St. Paul de Vence, from $910 a night For Unbeatable Rooftop Views: Elegant Loft in Saint-Tropez, from $681 a night Elegant Loft in Saint-Tropez, from $681 a night For Large Group Holidays : Modern New Stone Villa in Grimaud, from $1,232 a night : Modern New Stone Villa in Grimaud, from $1,232 a night For a Modern Treehouse: My Cabanon in Èze, from $307 a night Having trouble deciding which idyllic coastal town to make your base? One of the best parts about holidaying in the French Riviera is that you don't really have to pick. Even if you don't have a car, nearly every town is accessible by the speedy TER train, with most tickets ringing in at under 10 euros—and most trips a mere half an hour away—making it it easy to hop around. If the yacht-studded beaches and glitzy boutiques of Monaco and Cannes aren't for you, try a more laid-back town with plenty to do like Nice or Antibes. If, still, that's too noisy for what you had in mind, the Riviera offers a smattering of quiet seaside villages and medieval enclaves to explore.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge return to luxe wedding venue after blasting cheating claims
Fun in the sun. Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge returned to their luxe French wedding venue after blasting rumors that the British record producer allegedly cheated on the model. Richie and Grainge, along with their 1-year-old daughter, Eloise, traveled to the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Antibes, France — the same location where the couple tied the knot in April 2023. On Wednesday, Richie, 26, posted a carousel of images from their vacation to Instagram. In one photo, the youngest child of music legend Lionel Richie took a selfie as she lounged on a beach chair in a blue bandeau top. In another snap, Sofia posted an image of her mom, Diane Richie, holding Eloise as they looked out at the ocean. The mom of one also shared a photo she took of her husband, who posed on the stairs of the famed hotel. ' ,' Sofia simply captioned the post. The family vacation comes as the couple addressed 'mean' comments about their marriage — including rumors that Grainge, 31, had an affair. In a TikTok video posted on June 5, Sofia recorded her reactions as the CEO of Atlantic Records read off different comments. One remark stated, 'That? Cheating on her?' referring to Grainge, who responded, 'What am I, Shrek?' Another comment read: 'She should divorce him and take his child support money,'' which prompted Sofia to laugh. 'I had to break it to my husband that he's not the peoples princess,' she captioned the post. Sofia and Grainge exchanged vows at the French hotel two years ago in front of celebrity family and friends, including Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton and Cameron Diaz. The bride wore a custom Chanel wedding dress that featured an embellished train with white and iridescent beads, while the groom rocked a classic black tux. Sofia was walked down the aisle by her father, Lionel, 75. The couple welcomed their daughter, Eloise, in May 2024.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sofia Richie enjoys bikini break at hotel where she married Elliot Grainge after breaking silence on cheating claims
Sofia Richie enjoyed a family trip to the French hotel where she married Elliot Grainge - the world-famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. The daughter of Lionel Richie, 26, had just broken her silence on allegations that Elliot cheated on her after the birth of their one-year-old little girl Eloise. She responded to the claims with a TikTok video in which she and Elliot, 31, read through comments on a separate post that accused him of having had an affair. Sofia filmed herself listening to him as he listed some of the 'mean' comments they received, which she cheerfully laughed off. Now, they have continued to maintain their united front by vacationing to the site of their glamorous wedding in the South of France in April 2023. In a jaw-dropping Instagram album, Sofia posted a few snaps of her luxurious trip to the Hotel du Cap, including a couple of pictures she lovingly took of her husband. One of the photos was of Sofia in a bikini, lounging on what appeared to be a deck chair as she soaked up the summertime Mediterranean sunshine. She also uploaded a picture of herself cradling little Eloise as they both stared out an open window to gaze at the dazzling ocean view. Sofia posted the album just days after the TikTok video in which she and Elliot shrugged off the swirling rumors about the state of their marriage. 'Get that coin, sis,' Elliot read out loud, prompting Sofia to let out a small laugh. He then continued with, 'Why wouldn't she want to be single again?' and 'They got married?' Another was, 'She already secured the baby. Sofia has a rich dad as well, she should divorce him and take his child support money.' As Richie laughed once again while her husband read the comment, Grainge quietly added to his wife, 'Don't do that Soph.' Elliot then read another and said, 'That? Cheating on her?' - causing them both to agree the comment was 'mean.' Sofia panned the camera back to her and after a few moments passed, her husband questioned, 'What am I? Shrek?' She also uploaded a picture of herself cradling little Eloise as they both stared out an open window to gaze at the dazzling ocean view In the caption of the post, the daughter of Lionel Richie penned to her followers: 'I had to break it to my husband that he's not the peoples princess.' Social media users jumped to the comment section on the star's TikTok to offer their support to the couple. One penned, 'Best way to silence haters,' while another typed, 'Changing my dating app bio to "looking for an Elliot Grainge."' 'People honestly forgot how hurtful the things they say can be. That's terrible, poor dude,' a fan wrote. One shared, 'NOW this is a way that we should be clearing up rumors every single time. I love this,' and another added, 'Never doubted this man! He loves her, people are weird.' 'Real ones love Elliot and know he treats you like a queen,' one TikTok user penned, which also garnered a like from Sofia. Another was, 'She already secured the baby. Sofia has a rich dad as well, she should divorce him and take his child support money' As Richie laughed once again as her husband read the comment, Grainge then quietly added to his wife, 'Don't do that Soph' 'People honestly forgot how hurtful the things they say can be. That's terrible, poor dude,' a fan wrote A fan commented, 'What a way to respond,' while one added, 'Ugh please let this type of love attack me.' Back in 2021, it was confirmed that Sofia was dating Elliot - who is the son of CEO of Universal Music Group Lucian Grainge. The following year, he popped the big question during a romantic proposal during a getaway to Hawaii. In April 2023, Sofia walked down the aisle and the couple said 'I do' during a ceremony that took place in the south of France. The nuptials went viral on social media when the beauty launched her TikTok only days before the big day - and drew massive attention for its 'quiet luxury.' During an interview with L'Officiel, the star opened up about the following she garnered not long after joining TikTok. She currently boasts nearly 4 million followers on TikTok, and 11 million on Instagram. 'I've never expected to get any positive feedback from social media,' she told the outlet. 'My happiness doesn't depend on social media feedback, and I feel like I protected my mental health in that way throughout the years of being in the spotlight.' Sofia added, 'It was shocking for me to see such positive feedback, and it really put a smile on my face. It made me feel like, "Wow, there are kind people out there."' When it comes to using her social media accounts - especially TikTok - the star explained, 'I truly try to stay true to myself and my brand, and I honestly use TikTok like I'm talking to my friends. I'm just having fun. 'I don't want people to feel like I'm leading them to buy everything under the moon because I'm getting paid.' And while talking to Who What Wear in 2023, she reflected on launching her TikTok page to document the days leading up to her wedding. 'My friends were like, "How cool would it be if you started a TikTok and showed people in real time what was happening?" I thought, "You know what? That's so refreshing, and that's a great idea."' Sofia then jokingly revealed, 'I actually feel like a grandma on TikTok. Fun fact: I don't even know how to edit a video.' The star later expressed, 'The content that I created around my wedding was organic, and I wasn't pushing anything or hiding anything waiting for a magazine to publish. I was just being myself and letting people live through it with me in real time.' Sofia has been keeping busy and recently jumped to Instagram shortly after addressing the cheating allegations. Both she and Elliot recently enjoyed a getaway to the French Riviera to attend a wedding. Richie uploaded a series of snaps, including one where she and her husband were dressed to the nines and shared a loving kiss underneath the warm sunshine. The star wore a sleeveless, vibrant blue gown that was held up with halter-styled straps and Grainge sported a classic black tuxedo. Their baby girl Eloise - who celebrated her first birthday last month in May - also joined her parents for the trip. Sofia shared additional pictures that were taken over Father's Day weekend as they spent time at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, where both she and Elliot tied the knot two years earlier.
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Robin Thicke proposes to April Love Geary for second time
On Sunday, the model shared a series of photos showing herself and Robin on the steps of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. 'Robin surprised me during our trip to Cannes by proposing to me again with a new ring that one of my best friends (Nikki Erwin) @nikkiwhatnikkiwho and @establishedjewelry made, I'm so obsessed with it, thank you!!! This trip was such a dream. I love you so much @robinthicke.' April went on to praise Ali Lasky for helping to organise the special moment.
