Saudi prince sells English country estate to King of Bahrain for over US$165 million
- The Glympton Park property in the Cotswolds includes the main house, which was constructed in the 18th century, parkland and a church
- The sale is one sign that wealthy buyers are looking outside London for holiday homes after the pandemic made living in the capital less attractive
Prince Bandar bin Sultan, a senior Saudi royal, has sold a large English country estate to the King of Bahrain’s family, according to people with knowledge of the deal.
The former ambassador to the US sold Glympton Park in the scenic Cotswolds region in February, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deal is confidential. The sale price was more than £120 million (US$165 million), one of the people said.
Public documents filed this month for Glympton Estates, the company managing the estate, show a change of ownership at that firm. They now list King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and his son, Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as the people with significant control of the firm, replacing Prince Bandar.
The sale underlines the close relationship between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the neighbouring island nation that has relied heavily on the kingdom for security and fiscal support.
Representatives for Prince Bandar declined to comment. Representatives for the Bahrain king did not respond to requests for comment.
The sale also shows that wealthy buyers are opting for estates outside London for holiday homes after the pandemic made living in the capital less attractive.
