The son of a powerful Emir who died in London was a well-known meth user who often hosted days-long sex parties, staff at his fashion house have claimed.
Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi was found dead inside his Knightsbridge penthouse on Monday at age 39 after throwing what sources described as a drug-fuelled orgy.
Workers for his Qasimi Homme menswear brand told the Mail Online that Khalid regularly hosted parties complete with high-class prostitutes, and that it was common knowledge he fuelled himself with methamphetamine.
One staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Mail Online: ‘He enjoyed meth because it allows you to have sex for longer. It was the worst kept secret in the office, he had a real soft spot for that drug’.
‘We always knew that he’d been taking it because he’d come into work in a particularly bad mood. His behaviour would be really erratic.
‘On the whole he was a nice guy, tough but fair but when he’d been up for several days at one of those parties, he could become quite a monster.’
The Westminster coroners officers said that toxicology tests had been carried out during a post mortem, that took place before his body was repatriated.
However, the results ‘may not be known for another two months’ and so far no date has been set for an inquest.
Staff spoke out hours after Khalid was laid to rest in the UAE city of Sharjah, which his father Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi rules over.
Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, who was found dead in London on Monday at the age of 39, was a well-known meth user who stayed up for days throwing wild parties, staff at his fashion brand claim
Workers at menswear brand Qasimi Homme said he would spend the weekend partying at his Knightsbridge penthouse with high-class prostitutes, before coming into work as an ‘erratic monster’
Tens of thousands of mourners turned out for the funeral of Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the son of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, which was held in the UAE on Wednesday morning
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi (second right) stood over the body of his son with his eyes closed during prayers, where he was flanked by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi (right), Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al Nuaimi (second left) and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla (far left)
The Sultan watched with glazed eyes as funeral prayers were said for his son at the King Faisal Mosque at 9am, before a burial ceremony at the nearby Al Jubail Cemetery
A staff member claimed that on several occasions Khalid threw a chair and other furniture across the office following a weekend of partying at his Knightsbridge residence.
He said that staff had expressed concerns about this amongst themselves but were too frightened to take it up with Khalid himself, fearing that they might get sacked.
The staff member added: ‘Khalid could become very unpredictable and we always knew to stay away from him after one of his famous parties. He was the boss so we couldn’t really complain to him.
‘It was mainly his friends and business associates who were invited to the parties, never us. We just heard about what happened at them.’
Dignitaries from across the United Arab Emirates bow their heads in prayer at the funeral for Sheikh Khalid on Wednesday
Sharia law commands that bodies are buried as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours after a death. The body is washed and shrouded before the ceremony, during which prayers are said
The body of Sheik Khalid is carried into the King Faisal Mosque in Sharjah, the city which his father rules over in the UAE
The body was carried to the mosque in a white cloth covering before that was removed to reveal the black funeral shroud. The body was then taken to the Al Jubail Cemetery for burial
Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi (third left), was joined by his fellow Emirs as he watched the body of son Sheikh Khalid buried on Wednesday
Sheikh Khalid was buried in an unmarked grave which was covered with a mound of earth and a few decorative stones
Staff revealed that Khalid had introduced them to a woman last year who he described as his ‘girlfriend’, but he was not known to be in a permanent relationship.
Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi (pictured) was found dead at his Knightsbridge apartment in London on Monday
A female worker at Qassimi said: ‘As you can imagine, Khalid was very popular given the amount of money he had and the type of people he knew. There was no shortage of women after him.
‘But he always treated his female staff with respect. He was an incredibly hard worker and very driven, but he also partied very hard. It’s sad, because that’s what killed him in the end.’
The Emir stood over his son’s body with his eyes closed as he joined in prayers at the King Faisal Mosque at 9am.
The streets around King Faisal mosque was blocked off by police on Wednesday as the ceremony took place, with regular traffic directed around.
Mourners entered the building in silence before VIPs, including Khalid’s father, came in through a separate door.
During the service, he was flanked by his fellow Emirs, including Sheikh Saud bin Saqr, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid, Ruler of Ajman and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid, Crown Prince of Ajman.
Also in attendance was Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, The National reported.
Mourners sat in silence until shortly before 9am when they stood as prayers were read out, Gulf News reported.
The Saturdays singer Vanessa White is pictured with Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi at the Qasimi menswear catwalk at London Fashion Week
The ruler (pictured) is mourning the death of his second son as flags in the UAE are ordered to fly at half-mast
The bier carrying Sheikh Khalid’s body was then driven to the nearby Al Jubail Cemetery where it was buried in an unmarked grave, decorated with only a few stones.
As the Emirs left the graveyard, other mourners filed in to pay their respects.
Three days of national mourning began across the UAE on Tuesday, with flags flying at half mast. Al Badee Palace in Sharjah has also been opened to receive mourners during this period.
According to Sharia law, the dead should be buried as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours of death. The body is washed and shrouded before burial, which is followed by a salah, or prayer.
Sources had told The Sun newspaper about the drug-fuelled orgy at Khalid’s apartment, claiming that police found a quantity of Class A drugs after being called in by medics.
Police have yet to confirm or deny this.
Pictured: The social media announcement that revealed the prince had died in London on Monday
A second Instagram post was uploaded on his brand’s official channel on Tuesday announcing the death
A source told the same publication: ‘There had apparently been a party where some guests were taking drugs and having sex.
‘It is suspected that Sheikh Khalid may have died suddenly as a result of taking drugs. As well as the police inquiry, an urgent internal probe has been ordered and staff have been ordered to keep quiet.’
The source added that Qasimi enjoyed the freedoms that London offers but that his story ‘has ended tragically’.
The high-end apartment block where his body was found boasts a dozen homes that sell for up to £90 million.
No arrests have been made in the ‘unexplained’ tragedy, as detectives are describing it. Flags in Sharjah have been ordered to fly at half mast as three days of national mourning begin.
Tributes have flooded in on social media expressing condolences to the Emir, who lost another son aged 24 in 1999.
His death has been described as ‘unexpected’ by members of his team.
The prince was born in Sharjah but moved to the UK aged nine where he was educated at the prestigious Tonbridge School in Kent.
Model Alice Delal and Khalid Al Qasimi attend a party hosted by Qasimi on November 19, 2009 in London
Jade Parfitt , Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Elliott J Frieze and Erin O’Connor on the catwalk at the Qasimi Spring Summer 2009 Fashion Show at London Fashion Week
The menswear fashion brand founder (pictured on the runway for his London Fashion Week show) died in London
He studied French and Spanish at Imperial College London before moving on to an architectural degree and art school Central Saint Martins, where he studied fashion and launched his menswear label Qasimi Homme in 2008.
Its flagship UK store opened in Soho that year, with his clothes now stocked across the globe and paraded at fashion weeks in London, Paris and the Middle East.
The UAE’s Ministry of Presidential Affairs said in a statement: ‘President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan mourns with grief and sorrow, the death of Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the son of the Ruler of Sharjah, praying to Allah the Almighty to rest his soul in peace, and grant his family patience and solace.’
A tribute posted on his brand’s Instagram account on Tuesday reads: ‘It is with great sadness that we report that Khalid Al Qasimi has unexpectedly passed away on 1st July 2019.
‘Khalid was praised for his tenacious yet sensitive exploration of social-political issues, particularly those pertaining to the Middle East and its sometimes strained relationship with the West, a subject very close to his heart and his upbringing.
‘His goal was to create a world full of beautifully crafted products infused with cultural, social and political undertones to inform and inspire.
‘The design world has lost a great philosopher and artist, and we ask that the privacy of the family, team and brand are respected at this difficult time.’
Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi came into power in 1972. This is the second of his children to die.
His eldest son, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, died of a heroin overdose aged 24 in 1999, the Independent reported at the time.
He was reportedly found on his bathroom floor at home in East Grinstead surrounded by syringes.
Peruvian photographer Mariano Vivanco posted this picture of Khalid with the tribute: ‘Will always be my Angel RIP’
Sharjah is in the UAE, which is now mourning the death of Qasimi fashion label owner Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi who was the son of its ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi
A sunset view of the ‘The Eye of Sharjah’ – a giant wheel located near the corniche side of the City of Sharjah in the UAE