The Saudi Royal Court announced today that Badr bin Abdulaziz Al Saud died today, April 1, at the age of 81. A statement issued by the court states funeral prayers for the late Prince will be performed after Asr prayer tomorrow, April 2, at the Imam Turkey bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

Prince Badr was born in 1932 to King Abdulaziz (the first Monarch of Saudi Arabia) and his 12th wife, Haya bint Sa’ad al- Sudairi (a member of the powerful Sudairi family). Prince Badr had well over fifty half-siblings and three full brothers, Princes Abdul Majeed and Abdul Ilah.

Badr bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

In his youth Prince Badr, together with his brothers Prince Talal and Prince Fawwaz, participated in the Free Princes Movement. The movement lasted from 1962 to 1964 and was aimed at political reforms and adoption of a constitution. Because of his participation in the movement, Badr had to live in exile for a while, mostly in Egypt and Syria. Badr’s brother King Faisal (King from 1964 until his assassination in 1975) later pardoned the Princes.

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