A wealthy friend of Prince Charles and his estranged wife are locked in a High Court "divorce tourism" battle over his fortune.

Wealthy German industrialist and art collector, Jurgen Pierburg, 73, is one of the richest men in Europe.

He is also a pal of the heir to the throne, has provided generous support in the past for the prince's charity projects, and attended Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton, along with his second wife, Clarissa, 69.

The pair wed in 1985, after Mr Pierburg split from his first wife Christine in 1984.

Until they separated in 2017, the couple lived a lifestyle of the utmost luxury.

They shared a chateau in Switzerland with a staff of nine servants, a multi-million pound "second home" in Knightsbridge, and a £10m 140-foot superyacht, as well as having a cultural treasure trove in the form of Mr Pierburg's fabulous private art collection.

But the couple, who were together for more than 30 years, are now at war in the divorce courts.

London's High Court was told that Mr Pierburg has launched a petition for their split to be handled in his native Germany.

But Mrs Pierburg says she is "resident and domiciled" in London and wants the famously generous British divorce courts to deal with the financial fallout of the break-up.