King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia, issued a Royal Decree on Wednesday appointing his son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the Kingdom's Crown Prince, replacing his nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was relieved from his post.

Mohammed bin Salman has also been named Deputy Prime Minister and will continue his post as the country's Defence Minister.

The Royal Court said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, that, the ruling of the Kingdom "shall be from the sons of the founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al-Saud and his sons of sons where the most promising of them are chosen to rule."

King Salman also appointed Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif as Interior Minister, a post held by the former Crown Prince.