Saudi king cuts French holiday short amid protests

King Salman has now arrived in Morocco, which Saudi sources was to be the next part of his holiday programme, has abandoned his three-week beach holiday after just a week.

A Saudi source said the king’s departure had nothing to do with the media coverage over his visit which had been coordinated with the French authorities and strictly followed their procedures for high security visitors.

A French policeman stands near an official document informing the public of the closure of the beach called “La Mirandole” which is located below the seafront villa owned by the king of Saudi Arabia. According to the local prefecture at least half of the king’s 1,000-strong delegation was also leaving the property in the Cote d’Azur town of Vallauris Golfe-Juan. While his holiday is a major boon for the local economy, residents and other tourists are furious with the closure of the public beach to necessitate security and privacy for the King and his friends.

The king of Saudi Arabia has ended his vacation on the French Riviera early following local anger about a strip of beach being closed for the visit.

Castanet said that the elevator would be removed in the coming weeks.

In what is surely set to bring relief to the mad residents, the beach would reopen to the public on Monday morning, Castanet told the AFP.

It was unclear exactly why the king left or if he planned to return to France.

Building the lift had involved pouring a large concrete slab on the sand.

While some were unhappy at the closure of the beach, many traders warmly welcomed the king and his wealthy entourage.