BRINDISI - The former Emir of Qatar returns to Brindisi to thank a kind grandmother who saved him in a moment of need when he was caught short with a bursting royal bladder as long as 21 years ago.

 The Qatari royals arrived in style when they moored their 125 metre-long private yacht in Brindisi port – one of the biggest yachts in the world. Behind the glamour, however, is a humble story involving a local 89-year-old woman.

 Twenty-one years ago, the same Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani made a stop in the port of Brindisi to embark upon an Italian holiday. Barely arrived, the Emir was in need of a toilet but unfortunately there were no public ones nearby. The royal tourist resorted to asking people in the street, yet still no one was able to help; until one kind woman, Teresa Borsetti, opened her doors to him.

 The simple yet warm gesture has never been forgotten by the nobleman, and on his return to Brindisi port all these years later, he was determined to find Teresa again. And so the Qatari royal, flanked by his team of bodyguards, showed up on her doorstep clutching a gift.

 As if he were an old family friend, she welcomed him into her home, delighted to see him again in such an unexpected visit. Her children and grandchildren were staying at the time, and so the visit turned into a merry party, where the royal spent almost two hours chatting and sipping coffee.

 Before leaving, His Highness offered one final gift: a Christmas holiday for the Borsetti family in Qatar, obviously with all expenses paid. Delighted and overwhelmed, Teresa thanked 'the Father Emir' and they said goodbye, knowing that they will be seeing each other again very soon.

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