THE FORMER wife of a Qatar Prince spoke of being ‘cursed’ by money and being ‘trapped in a golden cage’ in a haunting interview before her death.
Kasia Gallanio, the ex-wife of Qatari Prince Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, was found dead in her Marbella home whilst going through a bitter custody battle with the Sheik.
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The body of the 46-year-old was discovered by Spanish cops days after she was reportedly told by a Paris court her custody demands would not be met.
According to El Pais, her youngest daughter, who lives in Paris, told police she’d been unable to contact her mum for days.
The Spanish newspaper said several officers were allowed by the doorman to enter the apartment complex in Marbella at around 8am on Sunday.
A post-mortem will be held to establish the cause of Gallanio’s death, with initial indications suggesting that she died of a drug overdose, police say.
Le Parisien reports that a Paris court had dismissed her custody demands just days ago, on May 19.
The case was postponed pending a psychological evaluation after Ms Gallanio was hospitalised with a “breakdown”, it’s alleged.
But during an interview that was shared on her Instagram page weeks before her shocking death, the royal’s ex-wife revealed how marrying into money had been a ‘curse’.
Speaking to chat show Women’s World Show, Kasia 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 its time to speak up, its time to let people know that its not all glam and perfect, that I do also struggle and go through things.
“It has been difficult, not just for me but for the children.”
“…on Instagram, I get quite a lot of messages from women who are either stuck in a marriage or controlled by the husband, especially coming from the Middle East.
“When you mix two different cultures, it’s a little hard to adapt.
She adds: “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.”
When quizzed about her relationship with billionaire Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, 28 years her senior, she spoke of being ‘trapped in a golden cage’.
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She said: “The most important thing for me is freedom, being able to walk out, being able to do things I want to do, instead of being just isolated.
The interviewer then asks, ‘in a golden cage?’ to which she nods, ‘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.
Where the former oil and finance minister, the nephew of the current Emir of Qatar, now lives after being exiled during a 1995 coup.
She said: “The little one is not allowed to talk to me, which makes me extremely sad.
“She gets a lot of material things from her father…I miss my daughter dearly.”
The former couple share two 17-year-old twins who initially lived with Al Thani before they decided to move in with their mother in Marbella.
She had alleged her ex decided to “cut them off” as “punishment”.
The pair have been in an ugly legal battle for 15 years over the custody of their children and it is now believed all three children live with their father in Paris.
Courts heard Al Thani accused his former wife of being an “alcoholic”, while she in turn accused him of abuse.
She alleges that her ex-husband touched a minor in an inappropriate way – he strongly denies the allegation.
Kasia’s claims came to light after she shared her story with the French newspaper, Le Parisien.
In the article, she warned ‘freedom cannot be bought in luxury stores‘ and spoke about the court case against her former partner.
She also shared the article via her Instagram page with a caption about having the courage to share her story.
She wrote: “I have been struggling with posting this on my IG but after getting so many messages of support and how so many parents are in the same situation……I decided to share my story.
“…The father of my children Prince Abdulaziz Khalifa Al Thani has not paid one cent for child support for a over a year now to help me support and raise our children.”
The American, of Polish origin, led a lavish lifestyle, attending Sofia Vergara’s wedding to Joe Manganiello in 2015.
She has been pictured with celebs such as Channing Tatum and rapper Tyga before her sudden death.
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A close friend, Ciara Corbett, shared a heartbreaking tribute: “I cannot put into words the deep loss I feel today.
“My beloved, kind, beautiful friend Kasia. My world will never be so full of sparkle and fun and happiness without you by my side.
“I have no words. You will be forever in my soul.”
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