A billionaire crony of Vladimir Putin with ‘links to King Charles’ may never get inside his London supermansion because of economic sanctions.
Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor is a citizen of Russia, the UK and Israel, and is currently based in Tel Aviv after living in London.
He was forced to resign as head of the European Jewish Congress and had his name removed from a wing of King Edward VII’s Hospital in London after sanctions were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Viatcheslav Kantor’s drawings for Kantor’s dream palace reveal one of the grandest private properties to ever be built in London this century.
However, despite more than £12million being spent on construction for his palace, work was grounded to a halt nearly three years ago after the invasion, the Times reported.
The property had plans to have a cinema, a swimming pool, an underground garage and an orangery.
Kantor, who has had links with the King in the past after being pictured together during the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in 2020 in Jerusalem, may never set foot in the palace despite it being designed for him.
William Bertram, who also has ties with the King, planned the superhome in the Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor pictured with King Charles during the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in 2020 in Jerusalem
Kantor is a citizen of Russia, the UK and Israel, and is an ally of Vladimir Putin, pictured
Kantor may never step inside his superhome following a set of economic sanctions
Bertram previously worked on Highgrove, Charles’s home in Gloucestershire, and created a treehouse for Princes William and Harry when they were young.
The scheme is considered bold even in an area that includes an area known as ‘Billionaires’ Row’.
Kantor, 71, is a major shareholder of Acron, one of Russia’s largest fertiliser producers, and has a fortune estimated by Forbes of £7.8 billion.
The properties on Winnington Road, pictured in 2012, are now said to be demolished.
The collapse in construction illustrates the difficulties Putin’s allies are facing with financial sanctions.
The development is being managed by KRF Services (UK) Ltd, who now owe debts of more than £7.7million, £2.2million of which is owed to Keltbray, the contractor building the superhome.
Thomas Paillardon, a Luxembourg-based tax expert, applied for the company to be placed into administration.
Andrew Twigger KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, approved, saying: ‘The Kantor family needs someone to provide the services which the company used to provide, such as managing the properties in Winnington Road and the valuable art collection, and this is likely to be easier to achieve if the company is able to support a transition of those services to a new provider.’
It comes after it was revealed that the Royal Family are looking to return to their usual schedules by undertaking more oversea tours in 2025 – after going through a challenging year.
Britain’s King Charles looks on during the recording of his Christmas message
Britain’s King Charles waves on the day he attends the Royal Family’s Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene’s church
The Princess of Wales, 42, is expected to continue her gradual return to public duties with more appearances, after she announced that she completed her chemotherapy in September.
Just a week after her birthday, Kate was admitted to the London Clinic in January for planned abdominal surgery.
She spent nearly two weeks there, after undergoing her operation, and was recuperating at home when she discovered she had cancer and told the public of 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 seem to be looking up, as Prince William, 42, suggested they could carry out an overseas tour together during his recent visit to Cape Town.
He said at the time: ‘I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up.’
The couple attended the Rugby World Cup in France in September 2023, and the Crown Prince of Jordan’s wedding in June 2023, and travelled to Boston in the US for the Earthshot Awards in December 2022.
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