THE only inhabitant of Britain’s most expensive house, once owned by a Saudi Prince, lives not in one of its 20 bedrooms but on its doorstep.
Anders Fernstedt told The Sun how he has taken to living on the step of the palatial £210million pile in London’s ultra exclusive Knightsbridge.
Boasting 45 state-rooms, 20 bedrooms, bins made out of 24-karat gold, a swimming pool and spa these days the luxury interiors are no longer the property’s most interesting embellishments.
Instead its most striking feature is Anders’ camp on the doorstep – adorned with broken tents, parasols, teddybears, jigsaws and flowers.
The seemingly dilapidated property is now looked after by the 57-year-old – who is described by well-to-do neighbours as a local “eccentric”.
He is also nicknamed “The Swan Whisperer” – known for sitting with the royal birds in nearby Hyde Park.
Anders sleeps under parasols on the pillared porch of the extravagant manor – surrounding himself with an evergrowing garden of junks – including fresh flowers in champagne bottles.
He has lived in front of the staggering property’s ornate doors for three years.
A stone’s throw from the Royal Albert Hall, the humungous house was owned by former Saudi Arabian crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz until his death in 2011.
Bought by Chinese property tycoon Cheung Chung-kiu for a whopping £210million in 2020, the 62,000 square foot mansion overlooks Hyde Park.
Now it appears to have been left to rot – with neighbours telling us has sat unoccupied for the best part of 10 years.
The Swedish national and former journalist told The Sun he set up home on the doorstep of 2-8a Rutland Gate after being driven out of his flat by a gang in 2017.
Anders told us his fortress of items began as a way to keep other homeless people away – but it since become a feature he lovingly tends.
He has befriended many of the rich locals who shower him with gifts – including designer clothes, a new iPhone and food.
Anders told The Sun: “I’ve never been a rough sleeper, I’ve never had any alcohol dependencies.
“Normally I live like a monastic, in solitude and silence.
He claims since living on this doorstep he “has not had a cold night.”
“I have my Mandarin Oriental luxury suite and a Hungarian down duvet, I sleep like the princess and the pea, I have a hundred layers of down,” he added.
He the only problem is he is woken up by the “screech of Lamborghinis at midnight” and in the morning the clattering of hooves as horses leave Kensington barracks.
Anders considers himself extremely lucky to live in one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.
After spending years sleeping in train stations and doorways, he is now very happy with living on the steps of the property.
As a lifelong swan enthusiast Anders discovered the derelict mansion during one of his daily visits to pet the birds at nearby Serpentine Lake.
Shortly after he began sleeping in the doorway Anders started building his fortress.
As he is the only person sleeping rough on the street, he thinks that to the neighbours “One is none, but two is a Calais camp.”
Now he arranges his collection to “entertain the neighbourhood’s children”.
He often chats to locals as they stop to inspect the latest teddy bears that have appeared.
Rosie Ryan, who lives a few doors down, said: “He’s a really interesting, very eccentric but friendly guy and he’s done this road a good service.”
Anders told The Sun that he has befriended Mayfair florists who allow him to take the flowers that don’t sell to decorate his doorstep and give to his neighbours.
Although he once worked for a well-regarded current affairs magazine, he has not had income since 2017 and says he has never received benefits.
Without begging he relies on the kindness of strangers who often stop outside his doorstep to ask him questions.
WITH 116 windows, 45 state-rooms, a basement swimming pool and seven storeys – the staggering mansion at 2-8A Rutland Gate is known as Britain’s most expensive house.
It was last sold in 2020 with the astonishing price tag of £210million – with the keys being handed to Chinese tycoon Cheung Chung-kiu.
However, it was reported in 2022 that the purchase was actually on behalf of billionaire Hui Ka Yan – chairman of the Evergrande Group.
But one year later – Hui was arrested and saw a spectacular downfall, with his company being delisted and his losing his billionaire status.
And so, the palace near Hyde Park remains in limbo.
2-8A Rutland Gate was originally built as four terraces properties in the 1800s before being combined into one mansion.
It covers 60,000 square feet – and its windows are reported to be bulletproof.
And during an auction in 2015, some of the staggering contents were revealed – including gold bins and a 24 marble bathrooms.
He told us: “No money is much better than little money.
“Because little money burns a hole, it’s never enough.”
Anders remains extremely positive about his situation.
“This is my desert island, this shipwreck. And if it’s a shipwreck, surely tomorrow my luck might change?” he says.
When people stop and ask if he needs any supplies, Anders often responds by telling them the only thing he would like is “company, someone to stop, chat and hang out with”.
The swan whisperer faced a run-in with the law last year when he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a disagreement with a man and woman over his interactions with the swans in Hyde Park.
During the trial, in which he represented himself, his neighbours sent gifts such as designer suits and Fortnum and Mason’s hampers worth £5,000.
Anders has also met Prince William a handful of times in Hyde Park where the heir to the throne allegedly told him to “take good care of” the birds owned by his father.
