‘Prince in court’ as local firm sues

Monday 30th November 2009, 2:29PM GMT.

Artist impression of the proposed development of the former Chelsea Barracks site in Westminster, London.

Artist's impression of the proposed development of the former Chelsea Barracks site in Westminster, London.

A GUERNSEY-based property company’s £100m. High Court action could see a member of the royal family appearing as a witness in a case for the first time since 1890.

CPC Group, which operates from Albert House, South Esplanade, has lodged a High Court claim seeking damages up to £100m.

The company, owned by property tycoons Christian (pictured) and Nick Candy, claims that Prince Charles’s intervention caused Qatari Diar, its former partner in the £3bn Chelsea Barracks development project, to withdraw the planning application.

Qatari Diar is the owner of the company Project Blue (Guernsey) Ltd, which was the developer of the scheme.

The Telegraph yesterday reported that the Candys want the court to rule that this withdrawal was in breach of the contract they had with Qatari Diar.