President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has on Sunday sent a message of condolence to King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saud Arabia upon receiving the news of the passing of brother, Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

Prince Talal passed away on Saturday at age 87 after he was reported to have been ill for several years.

The Maldives President conveyed heartfelt condolences to Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, son of the late Prince, the entire Royal Family of Saudi Arabia as well as its people, on behalf of the government and the people of Maldives and the President himself.

President Solih further wrote in his message to King Salman, that it is with “great sadness” that the Maldives learnt of the passing of Prince Talal.

Highlighting that Prince Talal was a statesman of the highest order who “served the Saudi Kingdom in numerous capacities”, President Solih grieved that his passing will prove to be a “profound loss to the Kingdom”.

 “Surely to Allah we belong and surely to Him we shall return” reads President Solih’s message.

Saudi news outlets report that son, Prince Al-Waleed took to twitter following his father’s death, writing that the Royal Family will be receiving condolences on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Riyadh.