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Watch: Prince William visits World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia
The British heir apparent is on his first official visit to the Arab nation, where he will be for three days
- PUBLISHED: Tue 10 Feb 2026, 9:39 AM UPDATED: Tue 10 Feb 2026, 9:54 AM
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, led by the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The heir apparent to the British throne posted a series of photographs and videos of his visit to the heritage site on his official Instagram handle.
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One of the videos of has him and Prince Mohammed bin Salman walking at the site and engaging in a deep conversation, which was captioned: "At-Turaif stands as an example of Najdi architecture that flourished in the 18th century, bringing together elegant design with structures built to last."
They previously met in March 2018 in London when the British royal and his father, then-Prince Charles, hosted the Saudi crown prince for a dinner at Clarence House.
The current king, Charles III, was the last senior British royal to make an official visit to Riyadh, when he was Prince of Wales, in 2014.
Prince William's three-day visit is aimed at strengthening relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia and signalling to the world that the Arab nation is a vital partner.
The trip came at the request of the British government, according to Kensington Palace, The New York Times reported.
Prince William's office, the Kensington Palace, said in a statement that William will participate in engagements focused on Saudi Arabia's economic reforms, cultural initiatives and environmental programmes.
The British prince, according to Reuters, is also expected to meet young Saudis, learn about the country's plans for sustainability and urban development, and visit projects linked to women's sport, e-sports, conservation and cultural cooperation, the palace said.
Also in William's itinerary is a visit to the oasis city of AlUla and its nearby wildlife reserves, engaging with the local communities and a tour of "Prince of Wales House", a new UK cultural space promoting collaboration in arts and heritage.
