Prince Bandar Bin Abdelaziz died on 28 July according to a statement from the Royal Court. Funeral prayers for King Salman Bin Abdelaziz’s older half-brother were held the following day at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Condolences immediately poured in from other Gulf ruling family members. Prince Bandar – the eldest surviving son of King Abdelaziz (Ibn Saud) – had maintained a low profile for years; some sources referred to him as ‘reclusive’.