A Saudi prince who was discovered dead in a luxury London hotel last year suffered a cardiac arrest caused by a combination of party drugs and alcohol, an inquest has concluded. Prince Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi al Saud, 29, was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his room at the Marriott Hotel in Kensington on November 25, after checking in for a week-long stay.
Cleaner Found Prince Unresponsive
A cleaner discovered the prince and called paramedics, but he was pronounced dead despite emergency efforts. A toxicology examination revealed a blood alcohol level of 222mg per 100ml of blood, nearly three times England's legal drink-driving limit. The inquest heard that this level alone could have caused a coma. Tests also found a fatal concentration of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), as well as traces of cannabis and anti-anxiety medications, including Xanax.
Prince Had History of Substance Misuse
The court heard that the prince had struggled with alcohol misuse and Xanax before his death. He had been admitted to the Priory Clinic in Roehampton several months earlier, where he underwent detoxification from alcohol, benzodiazepines and pregabalin. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Victoria Chamorro said: “He was assessed as having symptoms of low mood and anxiety on admission. When he was discharged he was considered not to be at risk of suicide. He was discharged with a friend but then failed to attend scheduled Zoom appointments. Nevertheless there was no concern for him. He engaged well and completed his treatment.” She also confirmed he had recovered from an upper respiratory tract infection before leaving the clinic.
Royal Court Announces Death
The Saudi Royal Court later announced his death in an official statement, saying: “Prince Abdullah bin Fahd bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musaid bin Jalawi Al Saud has passed away to the mercy of Almighty God, outside the Kingdom.” The statement added that funeral prayers would be held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Inquest Verdict: Death by Misadventure
Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin concluded there was no evidence the prince intended to end his life and recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, with the medical cause of death listed as multi-drug ingestion. She added: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Abdullah.”
