Prince William Visits Saudi Arabia for Delicate Diplomacy

Prince William traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday for his first diplomatic trip to the country, a visit intended to strengthen relations between Britain and the kingdom. Kensington Palace said the trip came at the request of the British government, reflecting confidence that the heir’s presence would help burnish ties.

He is set to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was briefly an international pariah after the 2018 assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. In recent years the crown prince has cultivated business and diplomatic ties worldwide, refurbishing his image and becoming a major geopolitical player; the visit will test William’s diplomatic skills given Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian monarchy and poor human rights record.

The trip also underscores William’s increasingly public role for the royal family since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III.

Saudi Arabia

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