An Instagram profile that seems to belong to Princess Latifa, the Dubai royal who claimed to have been held hostage by her father, has posted a photograph and an announcement repeating claims that she is “free and living an independent life”.
The daughter of the billionaire ruler of Dubai has not been publicly seen or heard from in additional than a yr.
Sky News has reached out to the account and to the UAE Embassy to verify whether or not the Instagram account belongs to the princess and if they may touch upon the matter.
Instagram accounts belonging to girls identified to be related to Princess Latifa are amongst these interacting with this new profile.
A photograph was printed on the account on Wednesday at 4pm UK time showing to point out Princess Latifa in entrance of the Swarovski Crystal Worlds attraction in Austria.
The publish claims the photograph was taken a number of months in the past, however this isn’t potential to confirm as Instagram removes information from photographs – together with when an image was taken.
A press release has been printed alongside the picture, saying: “I want to share my sincere gratitude to everyone who has shown compassion towards me over the past few years. In that time, my life has changed in so many ways and I am looking forward to the next chapter.”
It goes on to say the publish is in response to continued media enquiries concerning whether or not Princess Latifa has management of her personal life and is free to do as she needs.
The assertion continues: “I can perceive it from the surface perspective of seeing somebody so outspoken fall off the grid and have others converse on her behalf, particularly after every thing that has occurred which seems to make me seem like I’m being managed. I’m completely free and dwelling an impartial life.
“I live in Dubai for most of the year and can travel also, which is what I want.
“Again, I want to thank everybody who’s supported me and cared, I’m extraordinarily grateful.”
The last sighting of her is believed to have been a photo of the Dubai Royal with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The photo appeared in February last year, but Sky News was able to confirm the image had actually been taken the previous November.
In 2021, secret video messages handed to Sky News had been printed. In them, the princess claimed her father was holding her hostage.
After the movies, the UN and world leaders expressed concern for the princess.
In May 2021, a photograph was posted to social media displaying Princess Latifa in public for the primary time since her movies had been launched. A handful of photographs had been shared on social media over the next months earlier than information of the princess stopped.
The photographs had been first posted on the Instagram accounts of two girls.
These girls, who describe themselves as buddies of the royal, are amongst these interacting with this new profile.
They have shared and appreciated the publish, in addition to being listed within the handful of followers presently linked to this account.
The unverified Instagram account has “Latifa Al Maktoum” within the identify subject and is a public profile, which means anybody can entry it.
Her household, together with her father Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who’s the prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, have at all times denied any mistreatment of Princess Latifa and say they’ve at all times acted in her finest needs.
Allegations concerning the therapy of each Princess Latifa and her sister Shamsa had been heard throughout a High Court battle in London in 2020 between the Sheikh and his former spouse, Princess Haya.
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