Saudi Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz, a half brother of King Salman who had been ailing after being weakened by a hunger strike, died on Saturday at the age of 87, his billionaire son said.

"Prince Talal was called by God on Saturday," Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal wrote on Twitter. The family will receive condolences on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at home in Riyadh, he added.

Prince Talal had been hospitalised in Riyadh, though it was not clear where he died.

EXCLUSIVE: Senior Saudi royal on hunger strike over purge Read More »

Prince Talal had gone on a hunger strike in protest against a purge carried out by his nephew, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS), and the detention of three of his own sons.

He stopped eating last year on 10 November, shortly after his first son, Alwaleed, was arrested and lost 10 kilos in one month.

Before embarking on his hunger strike, Talal told friends it was right to protest "civilly" to draw attention to the tyranny that MBS was establishing under the cover of an anti-corruption purge, MEE reported.

The prince had long campaigned for a constitutional monarchy and the separation of powers, which he claimed are enshrined in the Saudi constitution.