Prince William meets Saudi leader on visit overshadowed by Epstein scandal
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Britain's Prince William (left) with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, at UNESCO World Heritage site At-Turaif, on Feb 9.
PHOTO: REUTERS
RIYADH - Britain’s Prince William met Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Feb 9, kicking off a visit aimed at deepening economic cooperation but overshadowed by his disgraced uncle Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.
The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) released images of Prince Mohammed giving the heir to the British throne a private tour of the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site at Diriyah, the first capital of the Saudi state, before a meeting between the two royals.
It is Prince William’s first official trip to Saudi Arabia, and ahead of his arrival in Riyadh, Kensington Palace broke years of silence over Andrew’s links to the late US convicted sex offender
The short statement, which did not directly reference the ex-prince Andrew, came as the monarchy faces renewed pressure over allegations stemming from the tarnished royal’s ties to Epstein.
In the latest damaging allegations from the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice, it emerged that Andrew may have passed potentially confidential reports to Epstein
The furore over his uncle threatens to eclipse Prince William’s three-day visit to the Gulf nation, a trip seen as contentious by some due to fierce criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
The trip, which will wrap up on Feb 11, aims to celebrate growing trade, energy and investment ties ahead of the two nations marking a century of diplomatic relations.
Prince William, a keen environmentalist, is also set to visit the historic city of AlUla, where he will learn about conservation efforts, according to Kensington Palace.
A warm relationship has long existed between the Saudi and British royal families, and Saudi Arabia is seen as one of Britain’s most important strategic partners in the Gulf.
The late Queen Elizabeth II hosted Saudi royals on four state visits, on a par with other key allies such as France and Germany.
‘Diplomatic arena’
Professor Simon Mabon, chair in international relations at Lancaster University, said the two royal families have had “close links” for many years.
Prince William’s involvement, which comes at the UK government’s request at a time when it was on the “back foot” economically, could be seen as an attempt to “capitalise on a bit of royal fraternity”, he said.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the government was keen to deploy Prince William’s diplomatic skills, as when he met US President Donald Trump in Paris in 2024.
“He’s very polished when it comes to the diplomatic arena, which is very important,” he told AFP.
But Mr Fitzwilliams noted there was “always the danger that royal activities, which are planned so long in advance, are subsumed by current news”.
The last senior royal to make an official visit to Riyadh was Prince William’s father, the current King Charles III, when he was Prince of Wales in February 2014.
The UK has previously raised concerns over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
In 2020, it sanctioned 20 Saudi nationals involved in the killing and dismemberment of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi
In 2021, former US President Joe Biden declassified an intelligence report that suggested Crown Prince Mohammed had approved the operation against Khashoggi – an allegation the Saudi authorities deny.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met the crown prince in Riyadh in December 2024.
Trade in goods and services between the two countries was US$23.5 billion (S$29.73 billion) in the year to June 30, 2025. AFP
