The Summer Palace in Beijing, China

The Summer Palace in Beijing, China, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. It is called Yihe Yuan in Chinese, which can be translated into the ‘gardens of nurtured harmony’. The Summer Palace in China is one of the largest palaces in the world, and is spread over an area of 2.9 kilometres, which includes the Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill.

The Summer Palace in Beijing, China with Kunming Lake

In fact, the Kunming Lake is a man-made lake, and the soil that was dug out of it was used to make Longevity Hill. Around the hill are numerous halls and pavilions, including the imposing Summer Palace or Yíhé Yuán palace. The gardens of the palace are decorated with temples, bridges and pavilions, and are an outstanding example of Chinese landscape gardening.

The Summer Palace in China was commissioned by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in 1749, who gave the hill on which it stands its current name of ‘Longevity Hill’. It was destroyed during the Opium War, and later reconstructed by Emperor Guangxu as a summer resort for Empress Dowager Cixi. During this period, the Empress ordered for 30 million taels of silver to be used for revamping the palace.

Beautiful Chinese designs on the walls of the Summer Palace in Beijing

In total, there are more than 3,000 ancient structures in the Summer Palace area, which includes majestic pavilions, towers, bridges, corridors and temples. Some of the most beautifully designed buildings are located on the south side of Longevity Hill. These include the Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Temple of Buddhist Virtue, the Tower of Buddhist Incense and the Sea of Wisdom Temple.

The Summer Palace is divided into three areas, one for political and administrative functions, one for the residence of the Emperor and his family, and the third is the imperial garden for recreation and beauty. There are beautiful lakes and streams meandering through the gardens of the Summer Palace. Buildings and other architectural creations in the area are adorned with exquisite Chinese motifs and designs.

Jade Belt Bridge in the imperial gardens of Beijing's Summer Palace

Today, the Summer Palace is a public park, and can be freely accessed from the city of Beijing through public transport. It is also on UNESCO’s renowned list of World Heritage Sites, mainly due to its tumultuous history and picturesque gardens. Most visitors to this Chinese palace give positive reviews about the place.

What do you think of the Summer Palace in Beijing, China? Would you like to visit it for a holiday?

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey

Dolmabahce Palace is a splendid palace situated on the Bosphorus Strait coastline, in the Besiktas district of Istanbul, Turkey. It was once the main centre of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey (1856 – 1922). The Dolmabahce Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid I (the 31st Sultan of the Empire), and was constructed by Ottoman court architects between 1843 and 1856. It was the main residence of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first President of Turkey, where he lived with his adopted children.

The construction of the Dolmabahce Palace in Turkey cost five million Ottoman gold coins, which equals about 35 tonnes of gold. In fact, gold is extensively used in the decoration of the palace, which includes the palace’s gold-leaf gilded ceilings. Crystal is another recurring theme. Tourists and visitors can view the expensive interiors of this Turkish palace only on guided tours, and are not permitted to roam around freely.

The Dolmabahce Palace near Istanbul is spread over an area of 110,000 square metres, with the palace itself occupying 45,000 square metres. It is the largest palace in Turkey. The palace has diverse design elements from the Rococo, Baroque and Neo-Classical architectural styles; while blending traditional features from Ottoman palace life and Turkish homes. It consists of 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths or hamams, and 68 toilets.

Some of the exquisite features of the Dolmabahce Palace in Turkey are:

• Crystal Chandeliers: The Dolmabahce Palace has the world’s largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers. In fact, it also has the largest Bohemian crystal chandelier in the world. Hanging from the ceiling in the central hall above the carpeted crystal staircase, this crystal chandelier was a gift from Britain’s Queen Victoria. It has 750 lamps, and weighs an astounding 4.5 tonnes.
• Imperial Garden: It is from this beautiful garden that the palace gets its name. The word ‘Dolmabahce’ comes from the Turkish words ‘dolma’ meaning filled, and ‘bahce’ meaning garden. This garden was actually a part of the stunning blue Bosporus bay, which was gradually reclaimed or ‘filled-in’.
• Crystal Staircase: The Dolmabahce Palace has an ornate crystal staircase shaped like a double-horseshoe. This staircase is constructed out of Baccarat crystal, mahogany wood, and brass. The palace also has other luxurious features like red Hereke carpets, upholstery and drapes; and 150-year-old bearskin rugs from Russia.
• Paintings: Some of the paintings at the Dolmabahce Palace near Istanbul are the Surre Procession by Stefano Ussi, the Paris Municipal Theatre Fire by Rudolph Ernst, and the Dutch Village Girl by Delandre.

The Dolmabahce Palace is open to tourists from 9.00am to 3.00pm on all days, except Mondays and Thursdays. Backpacks and large purses need to be checked-in at a baggage counter, and stringent metal-detector security checks are performed.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman

The Al Alam Palace is the magnificent home of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman. This palace is located in Muscat, the capital city of Oman, near wide open spaces and the splendid forts of Al Jalali and Al Mirani. These forts have been built on cliff tops, and offer a spectacular view of the palace and the city of Muscat below.

The Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos of Oman is located in a high-security area measuring about 1.5 kilometres square. It consists of several ultra-luxurious residences, as well as two helipads and a super-yacht berth. The Al Alam Palace is believed to have luxuriously decorated interiors, and hi-tech amenities.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born in 1940 in Dhofar, and did some of his education in Pune, India. He later joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in Britain, and served in Germany for one year. Sultan Qaboos later overthrew his father to take the throne, in which he was supported by the British government. He then established an absolute monarchy. This is when the Al Alam Palace was renovated, and many new luxurious features incorporated.

As visitors are not allowed inside the Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos in Oman, normal tourists cannot click photos of the interiors. However, here is a photo of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, while she was on an official tour of Oman, and was invited inside the Muscat palace.

Are you interested in visiting the Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos in Muscat? What do you think of this beautiful palace?

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Queluz Palace near Lisbon, Portugal

The Queluz Palace is a magnificent royal palace situated in the town of Queluz, near Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. This pink palace resembles the Versailles Palace, and boasts of the finest example of Rococo architecture in the whole of Portugal. The Queluz Palace was constructed in the 17th century as a manor house for King Pedro II. It was later expanded, and turned into a majestic palace, with grandiose rooms for balls and banquets.

One of the most beautiful rooms in the Queluz Palace is the elegant Throne Room, which is adorned with mirrors, gilded statues and crystal chandeliers. Check out the photo of the Throne Room below. Other rooms in this palace are the Music Room (for concerts and orchestras), the Ambassador’s Room (with marble flooring and a ceiling painting of the royal family), the Gun Room (painted with frescoes of trees and foliage), the Kings’s master bedroom, the Queen’s Boudoir, and a square room with murals from the ‘Don Quixote’ novel.

Throne Room in Queluz National Palace, Lisbon, Portugal

The other rooms at the Queluz Palace in Portugal are decorated with Arraiolos carpets, fine porcelain and bespoke English and French furniture. All rooms at the palace are decorated with gilded woodcarvings, in traditional Portuguese style, with many having portraits of the Portuguese royal family. In fact, the architecture of the Queluz Palace represents the final extravagant period of Portuguese culture, which came about after gold was discovered in Brazil in 1690.

The erstwhile royal kitchen of the Queluz National Palace is today a bustling restaurant named The Cozinha Velha, which is renowned for its delicious traditional desserts. This restaurant has preserved some of the old architectural features of the palace, including an old stone chimney, a vaulted ceiling and grand arches. There was also a royal chapel in the Queluz Palace, where the royal family used to attend mass daily.

Rococo Exterior of Queluz Palace

The Queluz National Palace in Lisbon also has a beautiful formal garden, which is decorated with fountains, and ornate statues of classical mythological figures. The ‘Hanging Garden’ is a small garden within this garden, which is located on a raised terrace, surrounded by a three-walled courtyard. There is also a beautiful canal, lined with blue and yellow azulejo tiles, within the Queluz Palace complex. The Portuguese royal family often used to take quiet boat rides along this water canal.

Today, the premises of the Queluz Palace in Portugal are used for musical concerts, as well as for state receptions for visiting heads of states, diplomats and other foreign government officials. Some famous dignitaries who have stayed at this Lisbon Palace are Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and President Eisenhower.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Schönbrunn Palace – Vienna, Austria

Schönbrunn Palace is a beautiful imperial palace near Vienna in Austria, which was commissioned in the late 17th century by Emperor Leopold II. It was designed by Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, a talented Baroque architect. While originally it was meant to serve only as a hunting lodge for the heir to the throne, later on a splendid Rococo edifice was built. The Schonbrunn Palace is today a World Heritage Site.

Schönbrunn means ‘beautiful spring’, and the Schönbrunn Palace has a small artesian well inside its premises, from which the Palace probably got its name. The Viennese palace has more than a thousand rooms, most of which are decorated in the Rococo style, with white-lacquered walls and ceilings, decorated with gold leaf. The exquisite design of the Schönbrunn Palace also includes the presence of sparkling Bohemian crystal chandeliers and white porcelain tile stoves.

While the Emperor’s master bedroom is quite simple, the state rooms and guestrooms are lavishly decorated. Some of the magnificent rooms at the Schönbrunn Palace in Austria are the Hall of Mirrors, the Round Chinese Room, the Blue Chinese Salon, and the Room of Millions. In fact, the Room of Millions at this Austian palace is considered to be the most opulent Rococo room ever constructed, because of its rosewood panelling, and expensive Indian and Persian miniature paintings.

Schönbrunn Palace Gardens

The Schönbrunn Palace has a beautifully landscaped garden space named the Grand Parterre, which lies between the palace and the Sun Fountain. This French garden was planned by Jean Trehet in 1695, and contains many attractions, including a maze.

Some of the other attractions at this palace are an orangerie, a palm house, a botanical garden and an enclosure for Orangutans. Lining the paths of the Grand Parterre garden are 32 sculptures of virtues and deities.

The Gloriette at Schonbrunn Palace

The Gloriette is a sculpture on a 60 metre high hill within the palace grounds, which was crafted in 1775. This sculpture was commissioned by Maria Theresa (the wife of the Emperor), and was meant to glorify Habsburg power and the Just War. Today, the Gloriette houses a charming café, where tourists can taste some of Vienna’s finest delicacies, and enjoy a panoramic view of the city below.

Roman Ruins at Schönbrunn Palace

Previously known as the Ruins of Carthage, these roman ruins are not real roman ruins. In fact, they were designed as an architectural feature of the Schönbrunn Palace complex in 1778, by architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg. They were meant to add an aura of grandeur to the palace gardens. The Roman Ruins at Schönbrunn Palace consist of a rectangular pool, a fountain, lateral walls, and a massive arch.

After the downfall of the Habsburg monarchy in 1918, the Schönbrunn Palace was taken over by the government of the new Austrian republic, and converted into a museum. During the Second World War, the palace served as offices for military garrisons and delegations. Later on, the Schönbrunn Palace was used as a meeting and conference centre for leading statesmen, including John F. Kennedy.

Today, the Schönbrunn Palace is used for state receptions, whenever visiting heads of state come to Austria. Various movies were shot on the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace, including the Sissi trilogy, A Breath of Scandal, The Great Race, and The Living Daylights (a James Bond film). Every year, more than five million tourists visit the Schönbrunn Palace complex on guided tours, for which tickets have to be purchased.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Lego Figure of Queen Elizabeth II With A Diamond Crown

In June 2012, Lego unveiled a special collector’s edition Lego figure of Queen Elizabeth II (with a diamond encrusted crown), to commemorate the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. With the launch of this exclusive Lego block, the company has joined many of the leading luxury brands who are celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee event with the launch of stylish and luxurious products (mostly limited edition pieces).

Unveiled to the public at the famous Legoland theme park situated in Windsor, just a short distance away from the Queen’s Windsor Palace, the bejewelled Lego figure of Britain’s monarch stands 10 centimetres tall. This figure has Queen Elizabeth II wearing a pure white gown, with the traditional blue sash (the Garter Riband). On the head of the Lego figure of the Queen is a little crown, encrusted with sparkling real diamonds.

Other than the bejeweled Lego figure of Queen Elizabeth II with its diamond-encrusted crown, Lego has also created Lego figures to portray other members of the Windsor Royal Family. The most famous of these limited edition Lego pieces was the figures of Prince William and his wife Kate, which were crafted to celebrate the Royal Wedding in 2011.

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Sultan of Brunei

The Sultan of Brunei is so rich that it is estimated that his wealth increases by 90 euros every second! On further calculations, this means that he earns around 5400 euros per minute, 324000 euros each hour and 7776000 euros a day. All in all implying a total networth of about 54432000 euros a week (spelt as a huge 54 million and 432000 thousand euros)

The Sultan of Brunei's name is Hassanal Bolkiah, full name is Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah. He is the president of the richest country in the world - Brunei. Brunei Darasullem is located near Malaysia in South East Asia. He has married three women and divorced once - currently leaving him with two wives. The Sultan of Brunei's wives have given him five sons and seven daughters. The Brunei Sultan is known to live a real lavish lifestyle. He uses gold in almost everything - cultlery, crockery, bathrooms...even his clothes are embroidered with gold and silver thread.

Here are some photographs of his luxurious palace home. The King of Brunei's palace is the second largest and most luxurious palace in the world, with the first being the Imperial Palace in Beijing, China. It has around 1788 rooms with some being luxuriously furnished in gold and encrusted with diamonds. This includes 257 bathrooms and 650 suites, with each suite furnished at not less than 150,000 thousand euros. The Sultan of Brunei's palace garage accommodates 110 cars.

The Sultan of Brunei's plane is inlaid with gold and is the most luxurious aircraft in the world. The King also has a private Boeing 747 worth a hundred million dollars, which was refitted with expensive accessories and furnishings like a whirlpool bath of pure gold. The plane now costs a whopping one hundred and twenty million dollars. The Sulatan of Brunei also has an additional six small aircraft and two helicopters.


One of the Sultan of Brunei's cars is specially customized to his tastes. He had requested the Rolls Royce company to combine their car design with that of Porsche. This car was manufactured especially for him and is parked in London, for His Majesty's exclusive use during his stay in Britain. It is estimated that the Sultan of Brunei's cars include 531 Mercedes-Benzes, 367 Ferraris, 362 Bentleys, 185 BMWs, 177 Jaguars, 60 Porsches, 130 Rolls-Royces and 20 Lamborghinis. This brings the total number of cars owned by him to 1,932.

List of Richest Royalty Family Heads

Here is the most accurate comprehensive list of the richest heads of modern royal families, all billionaires who topped the money charts in 2008. The list includes oil and gas royalty, British queen royalty, king royalty from Asia as well as other types of billionaire family royalty.


No. 1: The numero position in the list of royalty is taken by King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand aged 80 years. He has a net worth of $35 billion. The world's longest-reigning crown royalty monarch is revered as a deity. His Crown Property Bureau, through which he holds wealth, offered public access that showed granted vast landholdings, including 3,493 acres of prime property in Bangkok. This king royalty also owns stakes in the publicly listed Siam Cement and Siam Commercial Bank. He recently increased investment in Deves Insurance in order to take it private. While the crown monarchy remains technically separate from state, the king royalty exerts enormous influence in Thailand.


No. 2: Coming a close second in the list of royalty with the most money is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates aged 60 years. This king royalty has a net worth of $23 billion. He is president of the UAE and hereditary ruler of its capital emirate, Abu Dhabi. As UAE is home to one-tenth of world's oil reserves, petrodollars are the oil and gas royalty family's original source of wealth. His real estate also is more valuable, as property prices rose 100% from 2005 to 2007. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority recently was top news when it invested $7.5 billion in Citibank and purchased New York's Chrysler Building for $800 million.


No. 3: King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia is third in the list of royalty billionaires. This king royalty is aged 84 years and has a net worth of $21 billion. Ascended to the oil and gas royalty throne in August 2005; soon after, construction began on a $26 billion city named in his honor, which the government hopes will become the new economic epicenter of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is now earning approximately $1 billion a day from oil exports, helping boost the oil royalty family's fortune. This modern royalty king is an avid horseman and breeds Arabian horses. The king royalty also founded the Equestrian Club in Riyadh.


No. 4: At the number four position in the list of richest royalty families is Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei aged 62 years. This modern royalty king has a net worth of $20 billion. Crowned 40 years ago after his royalty monarchy father's voluntary abdication, the 29th sultan of Brunei is heir to an unbroken 600-year-old Muslim family royalty dynasty. This oil and gas royalty rules concurrently as its prime minister, defense minister, finance minister and head of religion. The sultan's oil royalty wealth is based on oil and gas reserves. He is currently battling with family royalty Brother Prince Jefri over allegedly misappropriated assets. An arrest warrant was issued for Prince Jefri of this oil royalty family when he reportedly failed to appear in a U.K. court to address charges.


No. 5: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stands at number five on the list of royalty families with the most cash. This king royalty is based in the city of Al Maktoum, Dubai and is aged 58 years. He has a net worth of $18 billion. Ruler of Dubai, an emirate of the UAE, prince royalty Sheikh Mohammed is a majority shareholder of Dubai Holding. He also has a major stakes in HSBC Holdings and Sony, as well as real estate holdings, including New York's Essex House Hotel. A formidable king royalty monarchy figure in horse racing, he owns a 3,800-acre farm in Kentucky and bought Australia's Ingham stud farm for reported $460 million.


No. 6: The first European on the list of billionaire royalty families is Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein of Liechtenstein. This prince royalty is aged 63 years and has a net worth of $5 billion. He heads the tiny Alpine principality of Liechetenstein. His family royalties bank, LGT, its most valuable asset, is the focus of a tax scandal for allegedly helping wealthy clients hide their money. A U.S. Senate investigation claims that his prince royalty brother Prince Philipp met with suspected tax dodgers in his role as LGT chairman. Other holdings of this prince royalty monarchy include an estimated 20,000 hectares of land in Austria; several 17th-century palaces in central Vienna; RiceTec, a producer of genetically engineered rice in the U.S.; and a 400-year-old art collection.


No. 7: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, from an oil and gas royalty family in Qatar is number 7 on the list. This king royalty is aged 56 years and has a networth of $2 billion. He became ruler of Qatar after deposing his family royalty father in a bloodless coup in 1995. Sheikh Hamad spearheaded the development of Qatar's vast oil and natural gas reserves. This oil royalty family head is currently making money from LNG commissions, with contracts with Korea, Belgium and Taiwan. The country now has the highest per-capita income in the world. A graduate of Britain's Sandhurst Military Academy, Sheikh Hamad is crown royalty that also oversaw the modernization of Qatar's armed forces and provided key start-up capital for Al Jazeera and its English sister news channel.


No. 8: King Mohammed VI of Morocco is number eight in the list of royalty billionaires. He is only 46 years old and has a net worth of $1.5 billion. This king royalty ascended to the throne in 1999. He derives his wealth from phosphate mining, agriculture and stake in Morocco's largest public company ONA. Recently, Morocco's economic growth has slowed to 2% in the face of a serious drought, putting a serious dent in the royalty monarchy families fortune. Still, the king royalty families palaces reported to have an operating budget of almost $1 million a day. The modern royalty king is currently making an effort to alleviate poverty and improve human rights. Last April, he pardoned eight Moroccan activists imprisoned for chanting anti-royalty monarchy slogans.


No. 9: Prince Albert II of Monaco is the second person from European royalty making up the list of royalty billionaires. This prince royalty member is 50 years of age and has a net worth of $1.4 billion. He took over the 700-year crown monarchy Grimaldi-family reign of Monaco in 2005. This modern royalty prince has inherited a fortune that includes real estate, art, antique cars, stamps and a stake in Monte Carlo's casino, Société des Bains de Mer. An environmentalist, the billionaire bachelor Prince Albert drives a hybrid car and has pushed for CO-2 reduction. However, a controversial expansion of Monaco, by this royalty family prince's plans to build a new district on the sea (apparently to be erected on giant pillars), has created fears of the formation of an underwater desert.


No. 10: Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman round up the top 10 on the list of royalty billionaires. This petroleum royalty king is 67 years and has a net worth of $1.1 billion. He assumed the throne in 1970 after overthrowing his royalty family father, who had kept the prince under house arrest for six years. His fortune has grown this year, thanks to an oil surplus. This oil and gas royalty prince is investing part of the surplus in tourism. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said is divorced and has donated millions to restore Oman's mosques. This oil royalty is said to be a classical music fan and he reportedly owns a 500-foot yacht.


No. 11: 71 year old Prince Karim Al Hussein of Pakistan is number 11 on the list. This modern royalty family head has a net worth of $1 billion. He is known as the Aga Khan and is the spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims. This prince royalty also chairs the Aga Khan Development Network that promotes investment in Asia and Africa. Prince Karim Al Hussein of Pakistan owns 900 thoroughbreds and has a stake in one of Britain's largest horse-auction houses. This family royalty prince is currently undergoing divorce settlement proceedings from his second wife, Inaara Aga Khan.


No. 12: The first woman on the list of rich royalty family heads is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Though not a billionaire, this European monarchy head has a sizable net worth of $650 million. The queen royalty is aged 82 years and is the oldest living monarch in British royalty history. Elizabeth II ascended the royalty throne at age 25 and plans to keep ruling until she's physically unable, spoiling the hopes of her son, Charles, to be king royalty sooner. The queen royalties personal fortune is based on property in England and Scotland, fine art, gems and a stamp collection built by her royalty family grandfather. Buckingham Palace and the Crown Jewels do not figure in, as they are state-owned treasures.


No. 13: Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait is another person on the list of really rich royalty family members. This king royalty is aged 79 years and has a net worth of $500 million. The country's longtime foreign minister was not originally in line to the royalty throne. However, fortune favoured this modern royalty in 2006, when he was appointed by the National Assembly after the original royalty crown prince was considered too sick to rule. Unlike royals in many Gulf States, Sheikh Sabah's wealth is based on a stipend and not on oil and natural gas royalty income. He called for new elections after the resignation of Kuwaiti cabinet in March and is promoting economic reform in the petroleum rich country.