Britain's Prince Charles is expected to attend the funeral of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.
The 66-year-old royal is said to have tasked officials at Clarence House with urgently arranging transport to the country's capital city of Riyadh in time for the procession later today (23.01.15).
The Prince of Wales has visited Saudi Arabia regularly throughout his life and counted the King - who passed away in the early hours of this morning (23.01.15) after a battling a lung infection - as a personal friend.
According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper a source said it was "likely" Prince Charles would attend the service if a scheduled or royal aircraft can get him there in time.
The heir to the throne would be attending the funeral on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who no longer makes long distance journeys overseas.
King Abdullah has now been succeeded on the throne by his half-brother Prince Salman.
A statement from the Saudi royal family's Allegiance Council reads: "His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 01.00 this morning."
King Abdullah will be buried in an unmarked grave later today (23.01.15) in keeping with tradition.
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