The Scotsman
The visit has drawn ire among members of the Scottish political community.
Carolyn Leckie, a Scottish Socialist MSP, has lodged a motion in the Parliament describing the Saudi government as a dictatorial and oppressive regime and calling on MSPs to boycott a forthcoming reception with the ambassador.
The prince was due to host a dinner last night for politicians, academics and business leaders with an interest in the Middle East at the Caledonian Hilton Hotel, Edinburgh.
Jack McConnell, the First Minister, had already indicated that he could not attend, because of other engagements, and Ms Leckie urged other MSPs to snub the prince.
She said: "Scottish Executive ministers will be dining with a despot and they will be guilty of gross hypocrisy for doing so.
"These same ministers sent Scottish troops off to die in a war ostensibly to rid the Middle East of a dangerous tyrant, and yet here they are sitting down in one of Edinburgh’s most expensive hotels to take dinner with a member of the Saudi Royal Family, a totalitarian regime whose security forces arbitrarily arrest and detain citizens who have no legal ability to change the government."
She added that the regime was guilty of suppressing freedom of speech and expression.