UK monarch directs protocol of Saudi royal’s death

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

(CNS): Government buildings across the Cayman Islands will be flying the Union Jack at half-mast for a full day Tuesday following the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Local government officials said this was based on instructions “from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II that the Union flag should be flown at half-mast on Government buildings within the United Kingdom, and most overseas missions, for a full day.” The Saudi king died on Thursday aged 90. Although he was considered a moderate and a reformer, he was still widely criticised for the human rights abuses associated with the country.

Despite directions from the Queen about the protocol regarding flags in the UK and its territories, the Welsh government is now reviewing its policy of lowering flags to mark royal deaths. The Welsh leader, Simon Thomas, said it was “sickening” in view of the country’s human rights record.

Abdullah will be succeeded by his brother, 79-year-old Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, who is reportedly in poor health and suffering from dementia.

By Saudi tradition the crown passes down among the sons of national founder, King Abdulaziz bin Saud, who died in 1953. Salman is the sixth son of Abdulaziz to be king and few of his remaining brothers — out of at least 35 who were alive when Abdulaziz died — are believed to be healthy or qualified to assume the throne.