Royal Watch News

Prince Salman replaced Prince Nayef as Saudi successor

Jun 19, 2012, 12:02 GMT

Prince Nayef

Prince Salman has been appointed the new Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

The 76-year-old royal was named successor after Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud passed away in Geneva on Saturday (16.06.12), and is now next-in-line to the throne after 88-year-old King Abdullah.

Prince Salman - who is currently the Defence Minister of the country - is considered to more liberal and pragmatic then his late brother and has been governor of Riyadh for a number of decades.

However, it is not expected that he would make any substantial changes if he were to rule the country.

King Abdullah remains Prime Minister of the country while Salman's younger brother Prince Ahmed becomes Interior Minister.

Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud was buried in the holy city of Mecca on Sunday (17.06.12) after he died while receiving medical treatment in Switzerland.

International leaders paid tribute to him with British Prime Minister David Cameron praising the prince's 'dedication' and US President Barack Obama speaking on his role in fighting terrorism.

The succession in Saudi Arabia still passes among the sons of former King Abdul Aziz bin Saud, who established the modern kingdom during his reign from 1932 to 1953.