Prince William offered a short but gentle response when questioned about Princess Kate during his three-day tour of Saudi Arabia, which concluded yesterday. The Prince of Wales wrapped up his official visit with a purple carpet farewell from Salman Bin Sultan, the governor of Madinah, before boarding an RAF plane back to the United Kingdom.
Engaging with Young Female Footballers
During the trip, Prince William participated in a training session for youth footballers at MISK Sports City in Riyadh, focusing on efforts to increase female participation in the sport. In a sweet moment, a young girl raised her hand to ask, "Did Princess Kate come with you?"
To this, William replied sympathetically, "No, she's not here, sadly," which prompted disappointed sighs from the group. In another interaction, a youngster inquired about which football team he supports, and he responded, "Have you heard of Aston Villa?" When the group confirmed they had, he said, "Good!" and asked about their favorite teams, discovering one was an Arsenal fan.
William then took part in the training, even taking a few penalties, and chatted with the girls about the role of women in sport in Saudi Arabia. The country relaxed many of its harsh rules on female participation in 2018, previously banning women from attending stadium events, playing in school leagues, or participating in competitive sports.
Conservation Efforts and Scenic Views
On Wednesday, Prince William began his final day by enjoying the dramatic desert landscape of the Sharaan Nature Reserve in Alula province. He was joined by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud as they drove through towering red sandstone canyons and past sand dunes, learning about "exciting" conservation plans to reintroduce native animals, including the Arabian leopard.
When viewing a formation known as the Dancing Rocks—twisted stone towers shaped by wind and erosion in the Raggasat Valley—William remarked, "It’s stunning scenery, it really is. I love looking down the valley as well."
Planting a Tree and Delayed Schedule
During the visit, Prince William was asked to plant a tree at the site but politely refused a pair of gardening gloves, joking, "I like to get my hands dirty." However, he ended up being 40 minutes late to an event in the town of Alula after a lunch with Prince Badr, the Saudi minister for culture, overran.
Afterwards, the two royals spent time visiting the old town, drawing a large crowd of locals and tourists. Before departing on an RAF jet, William told the Governor of Madinah, Prince Salman, "I’m sure we’ll be back soon," indicating potential future engagements in the region.
