King Salman commended Prince Muqrin for his years of service: “You have spent more than half a century serving your nation.”

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz gave his thanks in a letter to former Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, on Thursday, for his service to the nation, a day after a royal decree announcing the appointment of Prince Mohammad bin Nayef as the new crown prince.

In the letter, the king said: “We have received your resignation request in which feelings of loyalty and true brotherhood are evident.”

King Salman commended Prince Muqrin for his years of service: “You have spent more than half a century serving your nation.”

“We take pride in your efforts and tenure.”

In a separate letter, King Salman also thanked former Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who had been in his post for 40 years.

The monarch wrote: “You have sacrificed your time and your health for your nation.”

“Accepting your resignation was difficult for us,” he added.

On Wednesday, Prince Saud al-Faisal was officially replaced by Adel al-Jubeir, the kingdom’s ambassador to the United States.

Also on Thursday, a royal decree announced the merging of the courts of the king and the crown prince, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

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