SO WHAT DID THE OIL BILLIONAIRE MAKE OF QUEEN’S ONE-BAR FIRE?

THE Prince’s high-profile visit saw him welcomed to Downing Street by Theresa May after he was hosted at a Buckingham Palace lunch by the Queen — with her electric fire (circled above) displaying a frugal approach utterly alien to the big-spending Saudi royals. Last night, the Saudi royal dined at Clarence House with the Prince of Wales and Prince William. In other words, he got the works. At first glance, secular Britain, exporter of democracy to the world, and Saudi Arabia, one of the most oppressive and religiously conservative countries on earth, appear to be the unlikeliest of allies. And yet leading members of the House of Windsor and the House of Saud, as well as the countries’ politicians, continue to enjoy a warm friendship. This is partly because of Prince Charles’s deep appreciation for the ‘spirituality’ of Islam. He’s given many speeches to that effect. Famously, he took part, in full Arab dress, in a traditional sword dance four years ago with fellow princes in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The Queen, too, has a close relationship — once having driven the former king, Abdullah, around Sandringham in her Land Rover during a state visit.