Madrid - King Fahd of Saudi Arabia received a visit yesterday from King Juan Carlos who called to welcome him at the start of his vacation in the jet-set resort of Marbella, reports Jane Walker. It is the first time in 12 years that the Saudi monarch has chosen his sumptuous Mar Mar Palace - a replica of the White House in Washington and set in 50 acres of grounds - to spend his holidays and his arrival has created enormous excitement amongst the locals of Marbella who are rubbing their hands in glee and the prospect of profitable takings.
The summer holiday of the king and his entourage of 600 aides, doctors, security men, cooks and servants is no bucket-and-spade event. They required eight jets - two of them 747s - to transport themselves and their 200,000 kg of luggage to the Costa del Sol. They have reserved 200 suites and rooms in the most luxurious hotels for the staff who will not fit into the palace, comandeered every available rental limousine in town, and bought or hired 200 mobile phones.