Heads up just given this, any ties to this family? , this is highly unusual at this time of the year .
Saudi Arabia: King Removes Deputy Defense Minister
April 20, 2013 | 1503 GMT
Saudi King Abdullah removed Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Sultan from office April 20 and in a royal order appointed Prince Fahad bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman to take his place, Xinhua reported. No reason was given for the change. The question of succession is important to the Saudi royal family, and third-generation princes are cultivating their roles, experience and leadership qualities
what i can discern is that this change by the king to the prince now in charge of the defense ministry is that he is the successor of the king. unlike great britain succession is by child. saudi has succession by the relationship to the king and whom will be the best fit by prestige, and the ability to do the job. generally in the past saudi history, there were assassinations and killing off potential rivals.
probably be more changes to come as the king is old,some suspect in ill health and wants his most trusted in position to prevent coup attempts from within.