Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein has begun a court battle against her estranged billionaire husband.
She is applying for the wardship of their two children, as well as for a forced marriage protection order and a non-molestation order in relation to herself. The princess, 33, arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today ahead of the latest hearing in the legal battle between her and Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum over their kids.
President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane rejected an application by Sheikh Mohammed’s lawyers for several details to be subject to reporting restrictions. He ruled ‘there is a public interest in the public understanding, in very broad terms, proceedings that are before the court’.
Sheikh Mohammed has applied to the High Court for the summary return of the children to
Dubai, the court heard. Princess Haya and Sheikh Mohammed issued a statement confirming they are parties to proceedings before the court following a private hearing before Sir Andrew McFarlane earlier this month. The statement said: ‘These proceedings are concerned with the welfare of the two children of their marriage and do not concern divorce or finances.’
Princess Haya resurfaced for the first time since ’fleeing’ her husband with her children in June. Sheikh Mohammed, 70, who was not present at the hearing today, is the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai. Princess Haya, 45, who is the half-sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan and is Sheikh Mohammed’s sixth wife.