LONDON, Feb 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Prince William will begin his first official visit to Saudi Arabia with a meeting on Monday with host Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as London seeks to deepen economic cooperation with the Gulf nation.

The visit comes as daily revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein files continue to put pressure on King Charles III's disgraced younger brother, the former Prince Andrew.

The Saudi Crown Prince will give the heir to the British throne William a private tour of UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif later Monday followed by an audience with the de facto ruler.

The three-day visit which will wrap up on Wednesday aims to celebrate "growing trade, energy and investment ties" ahead of the two nations marking a century of diplomatic relations.

During the visit, William, a keen environmentalist, is also due to visit the historic city of AlUla where he will learn about conservation efforts to protect wildlife and unique landscape, according to his Kensington Palace office.

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.

Simon Mabon, chair in international relations at Lancaster University, said the two royal families have had "close links" for many years.

William's involvement -- at the UK government's request at a time when it was on the "backfoot" economically -- could be seen as an attempt to "capitalise on a bit of royal fraternity", he said.

- Human rights record -

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the government was keen to deploy 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.

He said the royals would be hoping that the visit would allow the focus to move on from last week's Epstein-linked disclosures.

The latest documents release reportedly prompted King Charles to bring forward Andrew's forced departure from his 30-room mansion on the royal family's Windsor estate, west of London.

Andrew, 65, who strenuously denies any wrongdoing, has already been stripped of his royal title over his friendship with Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019.

The worst thing would be "if by a stroke of dreadful luck, an image which appeals to the media happens to be released" during the visit, Fitzwilliams said.

"There's always the danger that royal activities, which are planned so long in advance, are subsumed by current news," he added.

The last senior royal to make an official visit to Riyadh was 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, who died at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

In 2021, former US President Joe Biden declassified an intelligence report that suggested Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation against Khashoggi -- an allegation the Saudi authorities deny.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with the Crown Prince in Riyadh in December 2024.

Trade in goods and services between the two countries was £17.2 billion ($23.1 billion) in the year to June 30, 2025.