(CNN) In a surprise reshuffle at the top of Saudi Arabia's royal hierarchy, the country's king has removed his nephew as crown prince in favor of his son, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Mohammed bin Salman will now be first in line to succeed his father King Salman as ruler of the Gulf nation, a key US ally. Mohammed bin Salman (L) and Mohammed bin Nayef at the GCC summit in Riyadh, December 9, 2015. By elevating his own son first to deputy crown prince, and now crown prince, King Salman appears to have cut off other branches of the family from the throne. Former Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Naif pledges allegiance to new Crown Prince #MohammadBinSalman in Makkah.

Source: CNN June 21, 2017 04:18 UTC