JEDDAH: A prominent Saudi princess jailed without charges made a rare public appeal to the king and crown prince for her release from a high-security prison, citing her “deteriorating” health.

Princess Basmah bint Saud, a 56-year-old businesswoman and an outspoken royal family member, was detained in March last year just before she was due to travel to Switzerland for medical treatment, according to a source close to her family.