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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Rachel Hagan

Chilling final interview of Qatar princess before mystery death saying she was cursed

A Qatar Princess 's chilling words have been revealed in a rare interview, where she said she had "no freedom" and was "cursed" by money.

Kasia Gallanio, the ex-wife of Qatari Prince Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, was found dead by Spanish authorities in her Marbella home in Southern Spain on Sunday.

During an interview that was shared on her Instagram page weeks before her death, the ex-Princess revealed how marrying into money had been a "curse."

Galliano and her ex-husband had reportedly been going through a decade-long bitter custody battle after allegations emerged that Prince Abdelaziz sexually assaulted the eldest of their three children - he strongly denies this.

Former princess of Qatar Kasia Gallanio found dead of a suspected drug overdose at her Marbella home (kashounia/Instagram)
Oil Minister for Qatar Abdelaziz Bin Khalifa Al Thani in Paris, circa 1980 (Getty Images)

The couple married in 2004 and following their divorce, Galliano was denied custody of her children so they lived with their father in Paris on the luxury Avenue Montaigne in Paris.

The 46-year-old Qatari Princess' body was discovered by Spanish authorities just days after she was reportedly told by a Paris court her custody requests could not be met.

According to El Pais Newspaper, her youngest daughter informed police she'd been unable to contact her mum for days.

Former princess of Qatar Kasia Gallanio found dead of a suspected drug overdose at her Marbella home (kashounia/Instagram)

El Pais said several officers entered the apartment complex in Marbella at around 8am on Sunday and discovered her body.

A post-mortem will be held to establish the cause of death, but initial indications suggest that she died of a drug overdose, police have reported.

Speaking to chat show Women's World Show, Galliano said: "There has been a lot of articles in the press because the custody [battle] is going on right now.

"So I decided after a few years it's time to speak up, it's time to let people know that it's not all glam and perfect, that I do also struggle and go through things.

Former princess of Qatar Kasia Gallanio found dead of a suspected drug overdose at her Marbella home (kashounia/Instagram)

"It has been difficult, not just for me but for the children."

She said she gets lots of messages from women who are either stuck in a marriage or controlled by their husbands, "especially coming from the Middle East."

She added: "I think money is actually a curse because it isolates you from a lot of people. It's a different world, I grew up in a normal household so for me it was a completely different world.

"I grew up in the States, so coming into the Royal family as an American was completely new."

She said freedom "is the most important thing" and spoke about how much she values being able to walk out and do things she wants to do, instead of being just isolated.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika receives Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Algiers International Airport (AFP)

The interviewer then asks, "in a golden cage?" and Galliano says: "in a golden cage, right."

She revealed her sadness at not being allowed to speak to her 15-year-old daughter, who is in her father's custody in Paris.

Her ex-husband is the nephew of the current Emir of Qatar and now lives in Paris after being exiled during a 1995 coup.

Galliano said her children get lots of material things from their father but the youngest one is not allowed to speak with her, "which makes me extremely sad" she says.

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