Royal watchers already anticipated Prince Salman, King Abdullah's half brother, to take the throne after the king passed away. After Salman became the new monarch immediately, he elevated his youngest half brother, Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, 69, as crown prince. To replace Muqrin, Salmon nominated his nephew Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as deputy crown prince, having served as the oil-rich kingdom's interior minister since 2012. The hierarchy shuffling settles any question of succession in the royal family, with as many as 10,000 family members.
