Prince William has made a last-minute trip overseas on behalf of the Queen following a sad event.
He has travelled to the United Arab Emirates to deliver condolences on behalf of Her Majesty and the royal family on the death of the country’s ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The duke paid his respects during a meeting with the federation’s new president and ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday.
William’s visit to the oil-rich emirate comes as presidents and prime ministers descend on the UAE from around the world.
The duke flew in overnight to carry out the duties on behalf of the Queen – a sign of William’s increasing responsibilities.
It is the first time second-in-line to the throne William has been asked to pass on the monarch’s condolences following the death of a foreign head of state.
The duke was pictured, wearing a dark suit, black tie and in a mask, sitting next to Sheikh Mohammed in an image released on the Twitter account of the British Embassy in the UAE.
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Sheikh Khalifa died on Friday at the age of 73 after years presiding over the country’s rapid transformation into a global business hub and regional power centre.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also travelled to the UAE on Sunday to offer condolences, along with other leaders including Israel’s president after the two countries opened formal relations in 2020.
As crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed has served as the nation’s de facto leader since Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014.
He has helped turn the UAE — which has a population of 10 million — into an influential state.
Meanwhile, William has been increasingly taking up more duties on behalf of the Queen - and last week attended the State Opening of Parliament with his father Prince Charles after his grandmother pulled out of attending.
And for the Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers, it shows how William is being primed already to be a future king and is learning the ropes with his dad.
He said: "William is emerging as a trusted lieutenant of the Queen, especially over the last couple of years.
"With the ongoing Sussex saga and the tawdry scandal surrounding his uncle Prince Andrew, William has been involved in top-level conversations regarding their futures, so it shows it is not just Charles but William also being prepared for kingship.
"Charles has often been realistic in accepting his reign most likely will be short-lived in comparable terms.
"He is fully supportive of William being his understudy and learning the ropes with him in order to shore up all of their futures."
