The British heir apparent is on his first official visit to the Arab nation, where he will be for three days
Prince William began his first official visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday with a private tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at At-Turaif, guided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The heir to the British throne shared a series of photos and videos from the visit on his official Instagram account.
One video shows Prince William and Crown Prince Mohammed walking through the site and engaged in a detailed conversation, with the caption: “At-Turaif stands as an example of Najdi architecture that flourished in the 18th century, combining elegant design with durable construction.”
They had previously met in March 2018 in London, when Prince William and his father, then-Prince Charles, hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a dinner at Clarence House.
The current king, Charles III, was the last senior British royal to make an official visit to Riyadh, having done so in 2014 while he was Prince of Wales.
Prince William’s three-day visit aims to strengthen ties between Britain and Saudi Arabia and to signal that the kingdom is a key global partner.
According to Kensington Palace and The New York Times, the trip was undertaken at the request of the British government.
A statement from Kensington Palace said Prince William will take part in engagements highlighting Saudi Arabia’s economic reforms, cultural initiatives, and environmental programs.
He is also expected to meet young Saudis, learn about the country’s sustainability and urban development plans, and visit projects related to women’s sports, e-sports, conservation, and cultural cooperation, according to Reuters.
William’s itinerary includes a visit to the oasis city of AlUla and its nearby wildlife reserves, where he will engage with local communities, and a tour of “Prince of Wales House,” a new UK cultural space promoting collaboration in arts and heritage.
