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MbS has left the capital Riyadh to head for the G20 summit in Argentina amid rumours members of the royal family are plotting to unseat him.

Soldiers and weapons have been redeployed from eastern and western Saudi Arabia to the capital as the Crown Prince to heads aboard.

Emirati media reports the military moves are in direct response to fears rival factions may attempt to seize power in the absence of MbS.

And a recent interview with an exiled Saudi Prince claims a royal coup is being prepared.

Khalid bin Farhan al-Saud claimed opposition groups are already mobilising against the Crown Prince.

Prince Khalid bin Farhan al-Saud, who lives in exile in Germany, said that a rival cabal has formed in Saudi Arabia.

He claimed the faction has just one goal, to unseat MbS – slamming him as “ignorant and delusional”.

MbS is due to become the ruler of Saudi Arabia when the 82-year-old King Salman dies.

The prince already is seen by many as the de-facto ruler – and is an increasingly controversial figure following the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

(Image: GETTY)

Prince Khalid predicted "a wave of violence is likely to occur as the Saudi kingdom is reigned using ignorant and barbaric methods”.

He added: "I hope that there will be a soft coup that overthrows the deep state and takes controls of prominent security institutions, and then sacks the Crown Prince and the king.”

Members of the House of Saud are reportedly not happy with MbS’s inevitable ascension to the throne.

Unlike monarchies in Europe, the aristocracy is made up of hundreds of princes with the power of succession being decided amongst them.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, younger full brother of King Salman and uncle to MbS, is a preferred candidate as the next ruler.

Saudi sources claimed Ahmed was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling family's senior members, who opposed MbS becoming crown prince in 2017.

MbS is seen as a social and economic reformer, granting women the right to drive and looking to break away from the kingdom’s resource-based economy.

His involvement in the killing of Khashoggi and the ongoing brutal war in Yemen however has raised questions over his motives.

(Image: GETTY)

MbS is likely to face cold shoulders as he attempts to cosy up to other world leaders at the G20.

He had been on an Arab tour before flying into Argentina.

The crown prince is not expected to meet with the US President during the weekend summit.

Saudi Arabia has also been openly clashing with Middle Eastern rivals once again over the past year – with some seeing them as waging a proxy war in Yemen.