Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received an invitation to visit the UK, according to a government source.
Number 10 stated that the prime minister's upcoming engagements would be confirmed through regular channels, as no official schedule has been finalized yet.
Another source from within the government indicated that there are no indications to suggest that the visit won't materialize.
This potential visit would mark the crown prince's first trip to the UK since the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
The news of the invitation was initially reported by The Times newspaper.
At the time of Khashoggi's murder, he was an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia's government, drawing condemnation from Western nations.
US intelligence agencies determined that the crown prince was likely responsible for authorizing the killing, despite his denials of any involvement.
The incident strained international relations, especially with Western nations.
In recent months, UK ministers have expressed interest in strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia. The country has established a London-based office for its trillion-pound investment fund, aiming to diversify its economy beyond oil.
Earlier this year, Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps engaged in discussions with Saudi Arabia regarding potential collaborations in sectors such as space, technology, and critical minerals.
The UK government has also explored the possibility of a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly embarked on a diplomatic trip to Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson held talks with the crown prince in Riyadh last year, focusing on reducing dependency on Russian oil and gas.
Despite this, the prince declined an invitation to attend the Queen's funeral in September, with another senior Saudi royal representing him.
His most recent visit to the UK was in March 2018, during Theresa May's tenure as prime minister, occurring six months prior to Khashoggi's murder.
As the de facto leader of the world's primary oil-exporting nation, the crown prince garnered praise from Western leaders for initiating some reforms within the traditionally conservative Gulf country, including the lifting of the ban on women driving.
However, his international reputation took a significant hit due to the Khashoggi assassination. Photo by U.S. Department of State from United States, Wikimedia commons.