The Magic Kingdom gets a new King - farewell to the one pictured to the right...The confirmation immediately following the announcement of the death of King Abdullah that Crown Prince Salman was to succeed him settled one question in the minds of many in the Middle East.
King Salmon, eh? Something fishy in all this...
There had been mutterings that the succession was not secure, and that on the death of King Abdullah, who had managed one of the world's most perplexing countries for two decades, anything could happen. The new King Salman then went one step further: he confirmed deputy Crown Prince Muqrin as his own Crown Prince and heir.
Prince Muqrin is seen as the closest to King Abdullah of all the surviving royal brothers who control Saudi politics. At a relatively youthful 69, he will presumably have some years left to him both as Crown Prince and then King to ensure that his mentor's legacy of gradual - very gradual - reform is honoured and even expanded upon.
Those questions are answered for now: many more mutterings remain. Despite its apparently monolithic politics, debate about Saudi Arabia's future is more widespread than it appears.
Speculation about impact on oil prices commences - hope you enjoyed the cheap gas while it lasted....
Oil Climbs as Saudi King’s Death Spurs Policy Speculation