Recently, however, the sheikh had again irked the ruling Al Saud family with a speech marking the death of the long-standing interior minister, Prince Nayef, who had also recently become the crown prince, as well as having been in charge of the religious police since 1975.

ECONOMIST: Shias in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

Lord McNally, the minister responsible for Britain's Crown Dependencies, said Sark can develop a system of good governance in its own way.

BBC: Lord McNally