Prince William Kicks Off Second Day in Saudi Arabia As He Meets Women Soccer Players

The Prince of Wales arrived on Feb. 9 amid the ongoing scrutiny of his uncle Andrew over his links with Jeffrey Epstein

NEED TO KNOW

• Prince William is kicking off his second day in Saudi Arabia
• He is meeting women soccer players and seeing an e-sports tournament after a visit to the new Sports Boulevard in Riyadh
• William is in Saudi Arabia at the request of the U.K. government to strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties with the economically-important ally

Prince William​​ is kicking off his second day in Saudi Arabia.

The Prince of Wales, 43, started the day meeting families and local residents on the new Sports Boulevard in Riyadh, which is at the heart of one of the newest elements of Riyadh’s environmentally-sustainable urban regeneration programs. He then joined academics from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to learn about Saudi Arabia’s wider energy transition and how initiatives like Sports Boulevard contribute to this.

For his second visit, he met with women soccer players, who organizers of the trip said would showcase the increasing role of women in society. Passionate football fan William was taken to MISK Sports City, where he was shown around the facilities and met with Lamia Bahaian, Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. He then joined the SAFF Regional Training Centre team as they took part in a training session.

Prince William arrived late on Feb. 9, just hours after he and his wife, Kate Middleton, broke their silence over Jeffrey Epstein. Showing solidarity with the victims of the late convicted sex offender Epstein, their spokesperson said in a statement, “I can confirm the Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims."

That was amid a day of relentless developments about the links between Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew. Andrew's brother King Charles, 77, was heckled as he greeted a crowd outside a train station in Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Then, as it emerged the police were looking into allegations the former prince may have shared confidential reports with Epstein, a palace spokesperson said that Charles "has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct."

The statement added that the "thoughts and sympathies" of Charles and his wife Queen Camilla "have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse."

Andrew has denied any wrongdoing and has not responded to PEOPLE's request for comment about the latest files.

The Prince of Wales is in Saudi Arabia for three days at the request of the U.K. government to strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties with the regionally-important ally. It is a key part of his role as heir to the throne and Prince of Wales to represent the U.K. and its interests abroad. That role included having an audience with one of the world’s most controversial royal figures, the Crown Prince of the country, Mohammed bin Salman.

At the end of Tuesday, Feb. 10, Prince William travels for the next part of his visit: To the historic city of AlUla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is known for its dramatic rock formations, sand dunes and archeological ruins that date back 7,000 years.

The Prince of Wales, who heads up the environmental Earthshot Prize and is a committed conservationist, is also set to learn about the crucial conservation efforts underway to protect the city’s natural wildlife and landscape.

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The trip is unlikely to be the last foreign visit by William this year. In early summer, he may also cross the Atlantic to watch one of the England appearances in the FIFA World Cup and potentially attend some of the commemorations around the time of the 250^th anniversary of independence around the same time. He is also expected to travel for the next iteration of the Earthshot Prize.

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