Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, a key member of the Saudi Royal Family and vocal advocate of reform, has died aged 87. Prince Talal, a senior member of the House of Saud family and the father of billionaire investor Alwaleed bin Talal, had reportedly been ill for several years.
His resume included various government posts, including both communications minister and finance minister.
The Prince went into exile abroad in the 1960s, when authorities temporarily revoked his passport following his leading a group of princes demanding constitutional reforms, at this time he also allied himself with the then Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser, an arch rival of the House of Saud.
Prince Talal returned to the kingdom after Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud became the king in 1964, and significantly toned down his political activism.
Talal also supported moves to give Saudi women greater freedoms, including the right to work and drive, and was an advocate of limiting the Saudi Royal Family’s military spending.
The SPA said funeral prayers would be offered for the prince in capital Riyadh on Sunday.
