Prince William has arrived in Saudi Arabia for a three-day visit, meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. The Prince of Wales landed at King Khalid International Airport aboard the ministerial plane RAF Envoy and was greeted by the crown prince at the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage site.
The visit, requested by the British government, is the future king’s most significant diplomatic mission to date. It comes amid scrutiny of the Saudi regime, which human rights organisations have accused of extensive use of the death penalty, suppression of free expression, and abuses against migrant workers. Crown Prince Mohammed’s reputation was further damaged by a US intelligence finding that he ordered the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
During the tour, William was shown the Arabian Horse gallery and other exhibits at the mudbrick city, the original home of the House of Saud. The two princes are expected to have a private dinner together, with traditional lamb around a fire, accompanied by senior Saudi family members and William’s private secretary.
Diplomatic sources emphasised the importance of the royal family’s “soft power diplomacy” and the need for Britain to foster ties globally. Amnesty International has urged William to raise the case of British national Ahmed Al Doush, sentenced to 10 years in prison for tweets from 2018. The organisation said any influence behind closed doors could be critical in securing his release.
