THE world's richest man, the Sultan of Brunei, is preparing to visit Scotland.
Sultan Sir Muda Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzuddin Waddaulah will stay in Cameron House Hotel at Loch Lomond.
His visit coincides with a bid by Clyde shipbuilders Yarrow to win a multi-million pound contract from Brunei.
The sultan's entourage has booked the Katrine Suite, which occupies an entire floor of the hotel. Singer Michael Jackson stayed there earlier this year.
With a personal wealth estimated to be five times that of the Queen, the sultan usually travels with dozens of attendants, and is bringing his own security, which in the past has amounted to 100 personnel.
A member of staff yesterday said: ''Nobody, even the management, knows which day he's arriving. We'll probably get told just a few hours before he turns up but that's purely for security reasons.
''He'll have his own chef as well and will probably eat in his suite so I doubt we'll see much of him.''
The sultan visited Scotland two years ago to receive an honorary degree from Aberdeen University. He arrived in his own Airbus 340, the largest plane ever to land in the city.
Yarrow staff have denied the sultan is to visit the yard. Manager Ian Murray said: ''We have not been told the sultan is coming to Yarrow, I think that's just rumour. We have put a bid in for a contract for Brunei but that's all I can say.''
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