{"id":2275828,"date":"2026-02-10T14:36:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T14:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2275828"},"modified":"2026-02-10T14:36:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T14:36:18","slug":"why-is-prince-william-in-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/why-is-prince-william-in-saudi-arabia\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is Prince William in Saudi Arabia?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"27554d51-a7e1-4bcb-9a5d-eaeb5d9d960c\">It\u2019s a turbulent time for the monarchy, as <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royals\/prince-andrew-is-the-royal-family-doing-enough\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royals\/prince-andrew-is-the-royal-family-doing-enough\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royals\/prince-andrew-is-the-royal-family-doing-enough\">fresh revelations in the Epstein files<\/a> continue to increase scrutiny of the King\u2019s brother. And now Prince William is walking a fine line \u2013 with a controversial visit to Saudi Arabia and an audience with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man said to have ordered the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royals\/what-will-william-be-like-as-king\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royals\/what-will-william-be-like-as-king\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royals\/what-will-william-be-like-as-king\">Prince of Wales<\/a> arrived in Riyadh yesterday, on a three-day visit aimed at strengthening relations with a <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/politics\/the-us-saudi-relationship-too-big-to-fail\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/politics\/the-us-saudi-relationship-too-big-to-fail\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.theweek.com\/politics\/the-us-saudi-relationship-too-big-to-fail\">key allied power in the Middle East<\/a>, despite its infamously poor human rights record. Kensington Palace said the trip was timed to mark 100 years of diplomatic ties between the UK and Saudi Arabia, and would \u201ccelebrate growing trade, energy and investment ties\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" id=\"elk-a669aa37-d386-4ed7-8aef-589a62cd67e2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><a target=\"_blank\" id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"00b8be49-e3df-4159-86a1-23593978c26b-0\">The fact that the UK government requested the trip is a sign of confidence that \u201ca visit from <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royal-family\/957673\/pros-and-cons-of-the-monarchy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royal-family\/957673\/pros-and-cons-of-the-monarchy\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/royal-family\/957673\/pros-and-cons-of-the-monarchy\">the heir to the throne<\/a> will help burnish ties\u201d, said Megan Specia in <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/09\/world\/europe\/prince-william-saudi-arabia-diplomacy.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/09\/world\/europe\/prince-william-saudi-arabia-diplomacy.html\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">The New York Times<\/a>. William had met the <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/news\/world-news\/middle-east\/957585\/mohamed-bin-salman-profile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/news\/world-news\/middle-east\/957585\/mohamed-bin-salman-profile\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/news\/world-news\/middle-east\/957585\/mohamed-bin-salman-profile\">Saudi prince<\/a>, and de facto ruler of the kingdom, when he visited Britain in 2018, and has seen him fashion himself into a \u201cmajor geopolitical power player\u201d in the years since Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s death. If William and MBS can \u201cstrike up a positive diplomatic rapport, this could lead to a meaningful future relationship between the countries\u201d, royal historian Ed Owens told the paper.<\/p>\n<div id=\"blueconic-article-theweek\">\n<div class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper__top\">\n<div class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper__top__left-div\">\n<h2><span class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper__top__left-div-title\">The Week<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.theweek.com\/servlet\/OrdersGateway?cds_mag_code=TWE&amp;cds_page_id=275740&amp;cds_response_key=I4BRBKSW1&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=theweek.com&amp;utm_campaign=wku-all-digital_referral-202401-sub-none-fbk24&amp;utm_content=us-in-article\" target=\"__blank\"><\/p>\n<p>\nSUBSCRIBE &amp; SAVE\n<\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper__bottom\">\n<div class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper__bottom__left-div\">\n<h2>Sign up for The Week&#8217;s Free Newsletters<\/h2>\n<p class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper__bottom__left-div-text-desktop\">From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p class=\"blueconic-article__wrapper__bottom__left-div-text-mobile\">From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>After all, MBS is 40 and William is 43: the millennial princes will in all probability \u201creign in tandem, on opposite sides of the world, for decades\u201d, said <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/royal-family\/2026\/02\/09\/prince-wales-william-saudi-arabia-crown-prince-audience-mbs\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/royal-family\/2026\/02\/09\/prince-wales-william-saudi-arabia-crown-prince-audience-mbs\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">The Telegraph<\/a>\u2019s royal editor Hannah Furness. If William succeeds in \u201cwinning over\u201d the leader of a country where political decision-making rest in the hands of dozen men, it could have \u201cprofound\u201d consequences for the British economy. The Gulf state has invested an estimated \u00a315.3 billion in the UK since 2017, and British politicians have been working to increase that.<\/p>\n<p>As a monarchy, Saudi Arabia is \u201cinstinctively more comfortable dealing with fellow royalty rather than elected politicians\u201d, royal historian Robert Hardman told <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/prince-william-saudi-arabia-gulf-trade-deal\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/prince-william-saudi-arabia-gulf-trade-deal\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">Politico<\/a>\u2019s Sophie Inge. A foreign secretary or ambassador \u201ccannot open the sort of doors and generate the sort of mood music that a senior member of the royal family can\u201d. The royals\u2019 longevity, compared to \u201chere today, gone tomorrow\u201d politicians, enables the formation of valuable long-term relationships, said Eddie Lister, director of the Saudi British Joint Business Council. And, in the <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/tag\/middle-east\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/tag\/middle-east\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/tag\/middle-east\">Middle East<\/a>, \u201crelationships are more important in business than anything else\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But does Realpolitik mean that \u201cthe heir to the throne must cosy up to his murderous Saudi counterpart?\u201d said Middle East expert Malise Ruthven in <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/unherd.com\/2026\/02\/why-is-prince-william-cosying-up-to-mbs\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/unherd.com\/2026\/02\/why-is-prince-william-cosying-up-to-mbs\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">UnHerd<\/a>. William has carefully \u201ccultivated an image as a thoughtful, socially conscious public figure\u201d. It \u201cdoes not befit that persona\u201d for him to associate with a regime implicated in \u201cmurderous violence, and repression\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The British embassy described \u201cthe human rights picture as nuanced\u201d, and it\u2019s true that William is visiting a Saudi Arabia that \u201clooks very different to the one his grandmother travelled to\u201d, said the <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c99k91gj09eo\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c99k91gj09eo\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">BBC<\/a>\u2019s royal correspondent Daniela Relph. But its criminalisation of same-sex relationships, oppression of dissent, <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/60339\/things-women-cant-do-in-saudi-arabia\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/60339\/things-women-cant-do-in-saudi-arabia\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/60339\/things-women-cant-do-in-saudi-arabia\">\u201cenormous limitations\u201d on women\u2019s freedom<\/a>, and the lingering memory of <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/99480\/jamal-khashoggi-murdered-by-saudi-state-says-un-probe\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/99480\/jamal-khashoggi-murdered-by-saudi-state-says-un-probe\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/99480\/jamal-khashoggi-murdered-by-saudi-state-says-un-probe\">Khashoggi<\/a>&#8216;s murder in 2018 mean that images of William with MBS \u201cwill be hard to stomach for many\u201d.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-XXKg5SoZLe2w9V5LUhS48h\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-XXKg5SoZLe2w9V5LUhS48h slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day \u2013 and the best features from TheWeek.com<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" id=\"elk-92859f2a-7e75-4499-a37a-e48ca7388fe2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-next-3\">What next?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"c8541b71-74c2-49b9-851b-24ddda9335af\">This royal visit comes \u201chot on the heels of Trade Minister Chris Bryant\u2019s tour of the Gulf last week\u201d, said Politico. He reportedly said a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE, as well as Saudi Arabia, was \u201c97.5% done\u201d. William \u201cmay now be asked\u201d to \u201cwork his royal magic\u201d and \u201cnudge it the remaining few percentage points\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But the British prince should \u201cdecline any invitations to inspect MBS\u2019s yacht, Serena\u201d, said Ruthven in UnHerd. An anonymous Saudi activist claims Khashoggi\u2019s fingers are \u201ckept on board as a trophy\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"block\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet=\"\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<p>Explore More<\/p>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"flex-none p-2.5 text-white bg-neutral-950 hover:bg-neutral-500 hover:underline hover:underline-offset-2\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/tag\/middle-east\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"\/tag\/middle-east\"><br \/>\nMiddle East<br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"flex-none p-2.5 text-white bg-neutral-950 hover:bg-neutral-500 hover:underline hover:underline-offset-2\" href=\"https:\/\/theweek.com\/tag\/prince-william\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"\/tag\/prince-william\"><br \/>\nPrince William<br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source theweek.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s a turbulent time for the monarchy, as fresh revelations in the Epstein files continue to increase scrutiny of the King\u2019s brother. And now Prince William is walking a fine line \u2013 with a controversial visit to Saudi Arabia and an audience with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man said to have ordered the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2275829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2275828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Why-is-Prince-William-in-Saudi-Arabia.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2275828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2275828"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2275828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2275830,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2275828\/revisions\/2275830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2275829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2275828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2275828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2275828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}