Prince William of Britain met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a three-day official government-sponsored trip to Saudi Arabia that began Monday in an effort to strengthen relations with the kingdom.
The visit comes after the British finance minister’s 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia, which London claimed had opened trade and investment deals worth $6.4 billion ($8.71 billion).
Prince William is also scheduled to participate in meetings centered on Saudi Arabia’s cultural projects, economic reforms, and environmental programs while on his trip, Kensington Palace, his office, announced Monday.
In March 2018, William had already met the Crown Prince when he and his father, then-Prince Charles, invited bin Salman to dinner at London’s Clarence House.
The late Queen Elizabeth also had a lunch with the Saudi royal on the same day. According to the palace, William the eldest son of King Charles, is also anticipated to meet young Saudis, discover the country’s plans for urban development and sustainability, and visit projects related to women’s sport, e-sports, conservation, and cultural cooperation while in Saudi Arabia.
At AlUla, an ancient Arabian oasis city, the British prince will also visit wildlife reserves, interact with locals, and take a tour of “Prince of Wales House,” a new cultural center in the UK that fosters cooperation in the arts and heritage.
Prince William meets football players
During his trip to Saudi Arabia, the Prince of Wales also had the opportunity to meet young female football players in Riyadh. Prince William learned about women’s involvement in sports in the Gulf state while training with local youth squad members.
The English Football Association’s patron, Prince William, met the young players on Tuesday at Misk Sports City in the capital. Physical education for girls was not implemented until 2017, and women were not permitted to attend sporting events in the nation’s stadiums until 2018.
