Retired Doctor Wins Fraud Case After £50,000 Royal Investment Scam
A retired doctor has won a legal battle after losing £50,000 in a fraudulent investment scheme linked to Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia. Dr Robin Russell-Jones was promised massive returns by her business partner, Sharon Rea, but the operation later proved to be a sham.
The case began when Dr Russell-Jones met Princess Katarina and Sharon Rea at the Royal Society of Arts in London. Rea presented him with a 'time-sensitive business proposal', claiming a £50,000 investment could yield a 1,000% profit within a year. Convinced, the doctor transferred the money, expecting a return of £4 million.
The scheme collapsed when investigations revealed Rea's supposed business empire did not exist. Dr Russell-Jones took legal action and won his civil claim, but Rea has only offered to repay him at £100 a month. Princess Katarina, a descendant of Queen Victoria and cousin of King Charles, had co-founded New Way Networking International with Rea five years earlier. Despite her royal lineage—her grandfather, King Alexander I, was assassinated in 1934, and her uncle, King Peter II, fled Nazi occupation in 1941—her recent business activities remain limited to charitable work. No new corporate ventures under her name have been publicly registered in the past five years. The princess previously faced criticism for hosting 'royal' etiquette classes after her divorce. However, her involvement in this failed investment scheme has drawn further scrutiny.
The court ruled in Dr Russell-Jones' favour, yet he faces a lengthy wait to recover his funds. The case highlights the risks of high-return investment offers, even when linked to prominent figures. Rea's repayment plan means the doctor will receive his money over decades rather than years.
