A billionaire friend of Vladimir Putin with ‘ties to King Charles’ may never enter his upstairs London home due to economic sanctions.
Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor is a Russian, British and Israeli national and is currently based in Tel Aviv after living in London.
He was forced to resign as head of the European Jewish Congress and his name was removed from a wing of King Edward VII’s Hospital in London after sanctions were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Viatcheslav Kantor drawings for Kantor’s dream palace reveal one of the largest private properties ever built in London this century.
Despite more than £12 million being spent on building his palace, work was halted almost three years ago after the invasion.the Times reported.
The property had plans for a cinema, swimming pool, underground garage and orangery.
Kantor, who has had past ties to the king after being photographed together at the 2020 Fifth World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, may never set foot in the palace even though it was designed for him.
William Bertram, who is also associated with the king, planned the superhouse in the Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor pictured with King Charles during the 2020 Fifth World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem
Kantor is a citizen of Russia, Britain and Israel, and is an ally of Vladimir Putin, pictured
Kantor may never step into his super house again after a series of economic sanctions
Bertram previously worked on Highgrove, Charles’ home in Gloucestershire, and created a treehouse for Princes William and Harry when they were young.
The plan is considered daring even in an area that includes an area known as “Billionaires’ Row.”
Kantor, 71, is a major shareholder in Acron, one of Russia’s largest fertilizer makers, and has a fortune estimated by Forbes at £7.8 billion.
The Winnington Road properties, pictured in 2012, are now due to be demolished.
The construction collapse illustrates the difficulties Putin’s allies face under financial sanctions.
The development is managed by KRF Services (UK) Ltd, which is now in debt debts of more than £7.7 million, of which £2.2 million is owed to Keltbray, the contractor building the superhouse.
Thomas Paillardon, a Luxembourg-based tax expert, has applied to put the company into receivership.
Approving it, Deputy High Court Judge Andrew Twigger KC said: ‘The Kantor family needs someone to provide the services the company used to provide, such as managing the Winnington Road properties and valuable art collection, and this is likely easier to achieve if the company can support a transition of those services to a new provider.”
It comes after it emerged that the royal family plans to return to their usual schedules by making more trips abroad in 2025 – after enduring a challenging year.
Britain’s King Charles looks on during the recording of his Christmas message
British King Charles waves on the day he attends the royal family’s Christmas service in St. Mary Magdalene Church
The Princess of Wales, 42, is expected to continue her gradual return to public duties with more appearances after announcing she completed chemotherapy in September.
Just a week after her birthday, Kate was admitted to the London Clinic in January for a planned abdominal operation.
She spent almost two weeks there after undergoing her surgery and was recovering at home when she discovered she had cancer and told the public about her diagnosis in March.
The mother of three has limited her royal duties this year and has not taken part in an official foreign visit for more than 14 months.
But things appear to be looking up as Prince William, 42, suggested during his recent visit to Cape Town that they could go on an overseas tour together.
He said at the time: ‘I think Catherine will hopefully do a bit more next year, so maybe a few more trips are planned.’
The couple attended the Rugby World Cup in France in September 2023, and the wedding of the Crown Prince of Jordan in June 2023, and traveled to Boston in the US for the Earthshot Awards in December 2022.