bandar's mother, khiziran, was from ethiopia, and the concubine of his father, prince sultan bin abdulaziz. this made him a grandson of ibn saud. both of bandar's parents were very young at the time of his birth: khiziran was just sixteen, and was working as a maid in the palace when she first came in contact with the prince. the royal family provided khiziran with a generous monthly pension after bandar was born, but told her to take her child and live with her own family.