Princess Helene spills the beans on estranged husband

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... or sings like a canary.  The princess is separated from her husband. Thierry Gaubert, who has been detained by French police in connection with the 2002 Karachi bombing case.

Gaubert has been friends with French President Nicolas Sarkozy for more than than 30 years.  He is also awaiting judgment "in another case of frauds and misuse of public funds." 

Princess Helene and Gaubert are not divorced ... yet.  The princess, who is the official daughter of Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia and Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma, has told the police that her husband went to Switzerland with the noted arms dealer and middleman Ziad Takieddine "to withdraw cash from secret accounts."   She gave evidence on September 8 stating that her husband accompanied Takieddine several times to obtain "cases of cash," which were delivered to Nicolas Bazire, head of LVMH.  Bazire was Sarkozy's best man at his 2008 wedding to Carla Bruni.

The Princess was required by French law to testify.  Her lawyers told reporters that thier client had no desire to harm anyone, and regrets the suggestion that the princess' comments wer motivated to bring charges against her husband.

The princess is Gaubert's second wife.  His first marriage to Diane  Barrière was dissolved by divorce.

Princess Helene and Gaubert were married on January 12, 1988 in a civil ceremony in Neuilly-sur-Seine.  The wedding ceremony was conducted by the mayor of Neuilly,  Nicolas Sarkozy.

The couple have three children, Milena, Natasia and Leopold.   Helene and her twin brother, Prince Serge are said to be the children of Prince Michel de Bourbon-Parma whose relationship with Princess Maria Pia began in the early 1960s.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2473816.ece