Saudi king's court fight with 'wife' to go public

One of the world's richest men faces an embarrassing public row with a woman who claims to have been his wife after a judge today dismissed his appeal for a secret hearing.

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia paid Janan Harb "a very substantial sum" for a binding agreement that she would reveal nothing of their past relationship.

But his wishes were overruled today when Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Thorpe said there was no legitimate reason for secrecy and the king did not have immunity from the English courts.

The king, 82, claims Mrs Harb cannot sue him for maintenance in an English court under the principle of "sovereign immunity".

That argument was upheld in the Family Division court, but Mrs Harb now has permission to appeal against that ruling in open court.

Lord Justice Thorpe disagreed with King Fahd's argument. Mrs Harb's right to a hearing, he said, should be decided "by open and not by secret justice". No date has been fixed for the full hearing.