£100m appartment

The world's most expensive flat has just been sold in London for £100 million ( $197M ) according to reports.

Sheikh Hamad, the foreign minister of the Gulf State of Qatar, is behind the purchase of the penthouse home in the most exclusive block in the world -- One Hyde Park.

The apartment is one of 86 luxury flats being built on the edge of Hyde Park opposite Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge.

The flats have 24-hour room service to the level of the Ritz, bullet-proof windows, eye scanners in lifts and spectacular views over Hyde Park and The Serpentine.

The site comes with underground parking for 115 vehicles and private lifts direct to each flat so residents don't have to accidentally bump into their neighbours.

Huge baths are hewn from wood, marble work surfaces, floor to ceiling fridges, panic rooms and former SAS security.

The £1.5bn block has been designed by Richard Rogers is being developed by brothers Christian and Nicholas Candy and is backed by the Sheikh himself from his personal fortune.

It will not be ready for another two years. Previous estimates for the price of the apartment ranged from £20m to £84m.

Two other penthouses have also been sold sources told The Times.

The previous most expensive flat sold in London was in a Chelsea development for £27m in 2005 also sold by the Candy brothers to a British financier.

At the time that was said to be the most expensive apartment in the world.

The price easily beats the price tag for what is marketed as Britain's most expensive house – Updown Court in Windlesham, Surrey – which is on sale at £70million.