Late ruler’s ‘secret wife’ wins £25 million payout

A woman who says she was the “secret wife” of a late ruler of an Islamic country has won a multimillion- pound claim at the High Court. Janan Harb, 68, alleged one of ruler’s sons had agreed she would be looked after “for the rest of my life”. The court ruled she was entitled to more than £15m, plus the £10m value of two homes in Chelsea, west London. Ms Harb claimed to have secretly married the ruler in 1968. The case could now go to the Court of Appeal. JudgeMr Justice Peter Smith said Ms Harb’s claim that the ruler’s son had met her at London’s Dorchester Hotel when the ruler was seriously ill two years before his death in 2005 was “credible”. She claimed he had agreed to pay her £12m and transfer back to her two flats in Chelsea to keep his father’s promise of lifelong financial support. The son of the late ruler made written statements to the court denying her claim. Palestinian-born Ms Harb told the court that members of ruler’s family were opposed to their relationship as she was froma Christian family. She said she converted to Islam shortly before their “discreet ceremony of marriage” took place. During the hearing, the judge ordered the ruler’s son to give evidence in person but was told the family feared his appearance would result in “a media circus”. His failure to appear led to him being ordered to pay £25,000 to charity for contempt of court. Ms Harb, who started her action more than 10 years ago, said in a statement: “Thank God we have British justice. The son wanted me to go to their country where he would had power over all this. “This is a very difficult case. I really thank the judge so much. He was so understanding.”