A 29-year-old Saudi prince died after consuming a fatal mix of alcohol, party drugs and prescription medicines while staying at a luxury hotel in London, a UK coroner’s inquest has heard. The prince, identified as Prince Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi Al Saud, was found dead in his room at the Marriott Hotel in Kensington on November 25. According to the inquest, he suffered a cardiac arrest caused by multi-drug ingestion.
Prince Abdullah had checked into the hotel, where rooms reportedly cost around 600 euros a night, on November 19 for a planned week-long stay. CCTV footage showed him leaving the hotel briefly for a cigarette on the evening before his death.
The next day, a hotel cleaner found him fully clothed on the bathroom floor of his fifth-floor room. Hotel staff immediately called emergency services, but paramedics were unable to revive him. He was declared dead at the scene.
What did the toxicology report reveal?
The inquest heard that toxicology tests found Prince Abdullah had a blood alcohol level of 222mg per 100ml of blood, nearly three times England’s legal drink-driving limit. Medical experts told the court that this level of alcohol alone could have caused a coma.
The tests also found potentially fatal levels of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), commonly known as a party drug. Traces of cannabis, Xanax and other anti-anxiety medicines were also detected in therapeutic amounts. Experts concluded that the combination of these substances caused cardiac arrest and led to his death.
Did the prince have a history of addiction?
The court was told that Prince Abdullah had previously struggled with alcohol misuse and dependence on prescription drugs. In August 2025, he was admitted to the Priory Clinic in Roehampton for detox treatment involving alcohol, benzodiazepines and pregabalin.
Doctors said he responded well to treatment and completed the detox programme without physical complications. Although he later missed follow-up appointments, medical staff did not consider him at risk of self-harm. He also received further treatment at Rainford Hall Clinic in Merseyside before leaving the facility in October.
Why did the coroner rule the death accidental?
Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin ruled that there was no evidence Prince Abdullah intended to take his own life. The court heard there was no suicide note, no indication of suicidal thoughts and no sign of third-party involvement. CCTV footage also showed he was alone during his final hours.
The coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, confirming that the medical cause of death was multi-drug ingestion. The Saudi Royal Court later confirmed the prince’s death and announced that funeral prayers would be held at the VIP Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
First published on: Jul 24, 2026 02:51 PM IST
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About the Author
Shivam Verma
Shivam Verma is a Chief-Sub-Editor at News24. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football, both playing and watching, and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
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