Death of Saudi crown prince and King Abdullah’s health issues highlight downside of gerontocracy

Sultan died at the age of 80, Abdullah is in his late 80s and the expected heir, Nayef, is 77.  A jump to a younger-generation royal is seen as unlikely while there are suitable Ibn Saud sons alive, but this could mean there is yet another succession changeover sooner rather than later Crown Prince Sultan’s death on 22 October was not unexpected