Princess Latifa Al Maktoum

As suggested by another poster, one thing that can be done by the general public is to not visit Dubai. Personally, it has never appealed to me anyway - from what I have seen, there doesn't seem to be much else to do than shop or sit on a beach. Boring.

Sickening the way he is made welcome here, ashamed our Queen accepts gifts from him, she has enough wealth, why mix with such people. She has stood by Andrew, some things are too big to ignore. That poor, rich girl is dead no doubt for not knowing her place, you couldn't pay me enough money to visit there and can't understand those that do and turn a blind eye.

I find the reaction of our politicians to stand up and challenge governments and regimes where women are unlawfully/unfairly held is usually slow and weak. How much longer does Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe have to spend away from her husband and small daughter?

PamelaJ1 it is a simple case of double standards, and she is 'The Queen'. Say that, with no country attached and everyone knows which queen is involved.

There is prestige, even if you are ruler of Dubai, with having the Queen as a friend and they do both share a passion for horse, race horses in particular.

We have close ties with Dubai and the UAE, so the Queen is probably seen as an 'honorary' man!

Urmstongran

Just reported on SKY that Princess Latifa is in the care of her family being supported by them and medical professionals.

We make of that statement what we will.

Isn’t that pretty much what Mary Robinson said after having a formal lunch with Princess Latifa and others a couple of years ago. Latifa’s supporters say the young woman had been sedated prior to that meeting. Mary Robinson issues a form of apology recently.

She's a Queen. That counts.
It's good that our courts gave his ex wife and children protection. Just wish Princess Latifa and her sister had made it to here.

Monica I agree that our monarchy is influenced by our government to be ‘friends’ with certain people.
How can they be friends. The first thing to notice is that our Queen is a woman. Well that’s not going to work is it?

None of this will stop air head celebrities going there, buying flats there and giving the state all the publicity it needs to attract more of their kind and their followers to the country.

I understand that the Queen has already been advised to distance herself from Al-Maktoum.

They have a shared passion for horse racing and breeding, but I suspect that all the Royal family have an outer circle of 'friends' who are there because it is diplomatic and useful for the government for them to have on board and with whom they have some shared interests, but can quickly be shed, if they are found to be doing things which would make them persona non grata, which Maktoum undoubtedly now is.

There has also been a lot of bad publicity following the 'escape' of one of his wives with their two children to the UK and the unpleasant details of his behaviour that were revealed in the British court that gave them protection [[www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/18284744.ruler-dubai-conducted-campaign-fear-ex-wife-high-court-finds/ ]]

Urmstongran

Just reported on SKY that Princess Latifa is in the care of her family being supported by them and medical professionals.

We make of that statement what we will.

Yes we will - it’s not as though they would lie to the world is it?

Just reported on SKY that Princess Latifa is in the care of her family being supported by them and medical professionals.

We make of that statement what we will.

Apparently it was last year was that the Palace she would no longer be photographed with him in in public. Wow that’ll teach him. Apparently he has sent her horses as gifts regularly over the years. What a grubby set of people both families are.

Angstridden2

I heard an interview on radio 5 one afternoon this week.The presenter was talking to an Middle Eastern female journalist about Princess Latifa.Apparently her half sister was taken from a private plane at a Cambridge airport during her escape attempt a couple of years ago. I was horrified that this could happen in the U.K. which supports other posters’ comments on how influential the ME ruling families are and just how much deference is shown by the British authorities. The journalist mentioned that this half sister was also supposed to be unstable’ to which the presenter replied ‘well they can’t all be bi polar can they’.

Exactly - the idea that the Govt or the RF will anything remotely meaningful is laughable - they are all in the same what’s in it for me club.

I heard an interview on radio 5 one afternoon this week.The presenter was talking to an Middle Eastern female journalist about Princess Latifa.Apparently her half sister was taken from a private plane at a Cambridge airport during her escape attempt a couple of years ago. I was horrified that this could happen in the U.K. which supports other posters’ comments on how influential the ME ruling families are and just how much deference is shown by the British authorities. The journalist mentioned that this half sister was also supposed to be unstable’ to which the presenter replied ‘well they can’t all be bi polar can they’.

suziewoozie- I read it on the BBC news website.

Aveline

The Queen used to invite the sheikh to join her in the Royal box but now refuses to be photographed with him. An insult! Well done HRH.
His sponsorship of various aspects of sport is also being examined. Good. Hope its really embarrassing for him

Where did you read this? Wonder if Camilla will hand back her millions of £££ worth of jewellery given to her from this basically criminal bunch of dictators? Yeah right

The Queen used to invite the sheikh to join her in the Royal box but now refuses to be photographed with him. An insult! Well done HRH.
His sponsorship of various aspects of sport is also being examined. Good. Hope its really embarrassing for him

According to Sky News this morning The United Nations has requested proof that the Princess is alive.

The Sheikh has alleged Princess Latifa has bi polar disorder. Even if that is a genuine diagnosis, it’s very treatable. It’s medieval to Incarcerate young women (any women) simply because the refuse to obey bullying men.

Sparklefizz

He not only owns a huge racing stud here but large swathes of property and land in the UK.

Unfortunately, the racing industry in and around Newmarket would take a hit without Maktoum money but I hope somebody takes a stand against this horrible regime before it becomes yesterday's news.

"Even if Princess Latifa is mentally ill" In that culture I'd take that to mean, a woman of independent thought who doesn't take kindly to being subjugated. It's like going back a century or so here when women/girls could be incarcerated in what were formerly known as mental institutions for being "wayward"

I find it extremely distasteful that the Queen socialises with a man who keeps his daughter in solitary confinement.

It should be interesting to see the reaction to the Sheikh's appearances as the racing season starts this year. I understand that the Princess is not under UK jurisdiction as such, but like other awful things going on such as the treatment of Muslims in China, the least we can do is not make these people welcome. Even if Princess Latifa is mentally ill, as is alleged, the family has more than enough resources to have her looked after safely and humanely, and given the proper treatment.

Suziewoozie- they don't control social media. We should help her supporters to keep this 'live' via Twitter, Facebook etc. Even GN is commenting on it!!

Dubai is fine for a couple of weeks visiting places of interest, enjoying the beaches and the very different way of life. It will, in time, return to sand.

Aveline

I think the media should continue to highlight this story. It's important to let these people know that their behaviour is unacceptable in a civilised society.

Hummm number 10 and the Palace won’t put up with much more criticism