Officials say the Saudi crown prince is keeping his mother hidden from his father, King Salman
More than a dozen current and former U.S. officials say that Saudi Arabia's crown prince has purposely kept his mother away from his father, King Salman, for at least two years, NBC News reports.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 32, became the crown prince of Saudi Arabia last June, after his cousin was removed from the position. Using intelligence, the officials have pieced together that he's prevented his mother, Princess Fahda bint Falah Hathleen, from seeing the king by putting her under house arrest at one point, and making up excuses to his father as to why he hasn't been able to see her, including telling him she's receiving medical treatment overseas.
Officials speculate that the crown prince wants to keep them apart over fears that the princess will tell her husband about his power grab, and a person close to the royal family tells NBC News there's been friction between mother and son for several years. The princess is the king's third wife, and he has reportedly told people he misses her and wants to see her. In November, the crown prince oversaw the arrests of more than 200 Saudi officials and businessmen, including many princes, describing it as a crackdown on corruption. The Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C., denied to NBC News that the princess was ever under house arrest or is separated from the king.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
The best homes of the year
Feature Featuring a grand turret entrance in New York and built-in glass elevator in Arizona
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nordstrom family, investor to take retail chain private
Speed Read The business will be acquired by members of the family and El Puerto de Liverpool, a Mexican real estate company
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden commutes most federal death sentences
Speed Read The president downgraded the punishment of 37 of 40 prisoners on death row to life in prison without parole
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published