Prince William is making his first visit to Saudi Arabia this week to celebrate “growing trade, energy and investment ties” between the kingdom and the UK. But with a number of sensitive issues on the table – from defence and intelligence sharing to Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record – how will the prince walk the diplomatic tightrope? Should the UK be pursuing a closer relationship with the kingdom at all?

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Guests:

Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday Times.
Sir William Patey, former UK Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producers: Julia Webster, Micaela Arneson.

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Read more: Prince William to visit Saudi Arabia as diplomatic ‘secret weapon’

Further listening: Travelling with the Duchess in a war zone

Clips: NBC, BBC, HM Treasury.

Photo: Dana Chan, Getty Images.

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Prince William walks a tightrope in Saudi Arabia