Posted on 11/04/2007 11:39:11 AM PST by camerakid400
It wasn't your typical dash to the airport.
But then when you are King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, nothing in life is particularly ordinary.
Unlike most travellers, the ruler enjoyed a majestic trip along the M4 to Heathrow – in a jaw-dropping 22-vehicle motorcade that monopolised the outside lane.
The convoy from Buckingham Palace, where King Abdullah had bid farewell to the Queen at the end of his controversial state visit to Britain, kept at a leisurely 55mph on the motorway.
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A 22-car motorcade accompanies the Saudi King to the airport
Leading were two police motorcyclists followed by the king himself in a £250,000 black Rolls-Royce Phantom bearing the crest of the British Royal Family. Next was a Range Rover carrying armed officers from the Metropolitan Police's elite diplomatic protection squad.
Behind them were 15 S-Class Mercedes saloons and Mercedes Viano people-carriers, filled with members of the king's entourage, and a heavy police presence.
Their order was clearly defined to provide maximum security. Behind the king and the Range Rover were: six Saudi vehicles, two more unmarked police Range Rovers, eight more Saudi vehicles, one marked police Range Rover and another Saudi car.
The S-Class Mercedes ranges from £55,022 to £104,600, while the six-to-eight-seater Viano costs between £23,675 and £34,415.
Earlier, commuters in Central London had been forced to wait as the outriders stopped at each junction, bringing traffic to a standstill to ensure free passage for the limousines.
No British Royals were at the airport to say goodbye on Thursday, but the Queen was represented there by the Lord Chamberlain.
King Abdullah has been strongly criticised over his country's human-rights record and in particular its treatment of women.
Public beheadings in the kingdom are common and opponents of the regime have been tortured and imprisoned without trial.
Lib Dem acting leader Vince Cable refused to meet the king during the ruler's three-day visit and there were anti-Saudi demonstrations.
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The convoy left Buckingham Palace where the Saudi King bid farewell to the Queen
The operation for King Abdullah's departure from the UK will add thousands of pounds to the Met's already huge security bill.
In 2005 the force spent £505million on VIP protection and anti-terrorism operations – twice the amount than on investigating burglaries, sex attacks, robberies and drug crime.
Specialist Operations – the Met's branch that covers guarding politicians, royalty and visiting dignitaries, plus all terror-related responsibilities – consumed nearly 16 per cent of the force's budget in the latest financial year for which there is a figure.
That was an increase of £100million on the previous 12 months. Meanwhile, the amount spent on routine patrols fell from £331million to £313million.
The Yard refuses to discuss its secret list of VIPs judged worthy of the highest protection level. But there was surprise last year when this newspaper revealed that two police Range Rovers and six outriders escorted a motorcade taking the King of Bahrain and 70 guests to The Dorchester to celebrate his son's graduation from Sandhurst military academy.
The king was on a private visit and no meetings with British Ministers or officials took place. Yet his guests were allowed to leave their cars on double yellow lines outside the West End hotel for several hours without one getting a parking ticket.
As a state visit, King Abdullah's time in Britain was much more formal – and part of a 13-day European tour which is also taking him to Italy, Germany and Turkey.
Speaking at a Buckingham Palace banquet, he offered his "highest praise" for Britain's toleration of people of different races and religions, but warned that the world faced "ominous signs of war and conflict".
Last night Scotland Yard confirmed it would be footing the entire bill for the protection operation, but refused to give the figure.
The Saudi royal family's wealth is so large that no reliable estimate is available. However, when King Abdullah's predecessor, his half-brother King Fahd, died two years ago, his fortune was said to be worth £30billion.
Always a Pimp, Never Slippin, Nice........
Target-rich environment.
New ruler visiting recently acquired ‘jewel’ in his crown?
Merger of Saudi and Brit Navy to follow?
He was there to discuss the terms of their surrender.
If people knew how The President of The United States travels on the ground, this wouldn’t be an issue.
The deal fell through, the Iranians won’t give it back.
He is the real future king of England.
Ye gad, what’s with the royal rictus grins??
Sometimes it's very hard to work up a smile.
Hmmmm. I wouldn't've thought that'd be a problem in this case. I mean, gee, what's not to love, right? Go figure.
Sic semper evello mortem tyrannus!
That’s Brit for “sedan” ;)
I like the Princess Leia hair do.
Supposedly the band played the “Evil Empire” theme march
on the King’s arrival at the Talking Palace.
He must not listen to Rush’s show much...
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