When he dines with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after a private audience in the historic surroundings of the At-Turaif Palace this evening, Prince William will face one of his most important diplomatic tests to date.
The heir to the throne has been tasked with cultivating a close relationship with the controversial Saudi leader by the UK Government, for whom the Middle Eastern Kingdom is a key strategic and trade ally.
“This is yet another example of the prince representing the United Kingdom at the highest level, on the global stage,” said a Kensington Palace spokesman. William has met the Crown Prince previously, in March 2018, when he visited the UK. Later that year, his regime was widely criticised for its involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khasoggi.
Saudi Arabia also continues to be criticised for its human rights record and has been accused of investing in sporting events such as the 2034 football World Cup to distract from controversy in a practice known as “sportswashing”.
Meanwhile, women have historically had fewer rights than men, although they fully entered the labour market in 2016 and have been allowed to drive since 2018 and the situation continues to improve. There is much then, that William could raise with the Crown Prince if he is minded to.
But the request for him to visit Saudi Arabia and cement ties with his counterpart as the two countries approach a century of diplomatic relations was said to have been the UK Government’s “number one ask” of the future King for this year.
Mindful of the long-term relationship he needs to form, William may judge that it is not the right time at this stage to raise concerns.
“What’s really important is the Prince building a really strong relationship with the Crown Prince to allow every element of our bilateral relationship to be explored,” said a palace source. “If there’s something on the Prince of Wales’s mind, he shares that with whoever he is with.”
As well as being the most important diplomatic and religious centre of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is fast emerging as the region’s most important commercially, with a burgeoning AI sector, so strong relations are seen as crucial for the UK. And William’s presence, as a future monarch, is crucial.
© GettyThe Saudis are “delighted that he is here,” according to Stephen Hitchen, UK Ambassador to Riyadh. “The fact that he’s a prince and the future king matters enormously. They want it to be a friendship that lasts.”
Both men are said to favour a more relaxed approach to audiences, preferring minimal protocol so they can focus on the issues at hand.
The two Princes are likely to find common ground in their shared interests in football. As an ardent Aston Villa fan, William is said to be “unlikely” to bring up his side’s 2-0 defeat of Saudi-owned Newcastle United, however. They may also bond over a shared interest in gaming – William will join an E-Sports tournament in Riyadh on Tuesday – or even conservation.
The capital’s Sports Boulevard, which he will also visit on Tuesday, has been nominated for the 2026 Earthshot Prize for its efforts to plant more than four million square metres of greenery and 200,000 trees across the city.
In a “top-down” system, only a small circle of people around the Crown Prince make decisions that affect the rest of the country, so influencing to view the UK positively is seen as key to building a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.
How well he and William get on matters, then. After that, it’s up to the diplomats and officials behind the scenes to make the most of the goodwill that is created.
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