Theresa May declines to wear a headscarf as she meets Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on British trade trip (but she does wear trousers)

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Theresa May met the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia for trade talks without wearing a headscarf today.

Mrs May followed in the footsteps of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton by opting for a Western-style, dark trouser suit.

The Prime Minister's dress had been the subject of intense speculation ahead of her visit to the deeply conservative country and Mrs May has said she hopes to inspire women in the country on her trip.

Foreign Office advice to British women visiting Saudi Arabia is to wear a headscarf, together with 'conservative, loose fitting clothes'.

Theresa May was greeted by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Royal Palace in Riyadh today. Mrs May stuck to her normal dress and did not wear a head scarf

Mrs May followed in the footsteps of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton by opting for a Western-style, dark trouser suit, pictured. She is seen here being greeted by dignitaries at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh

Mrs May introduced her staff to the Crown Prince ahead of the trade talks in Riyadh. The occasion was photographed by Saudi officials 

Mrs May met Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Royal Palace in Riyadh for talks on trade and arms sales.

The Prime Minister is set to bow to pressure and raise human rights abuses on her trip amid condemnation British-made weapons are being used in alleged atrocities by the Saudi military in Yemen.  

Saudi Arabia is attacking terrorist targets under a UN mandate but has been accused of targeting civilians. The Metropolitan Police is studying allegations of war crimes. 

No 10 had refused to confirm what Mrs May would wear on her visit but speaking to reporters on the plane en-route to the Gulf, the premier said: 'I hope that people see me as a woman leader and will see what women can achieve and how women can be in significant positions.' 

Mrs May's visit is focused on trade and as recently as yesterday No 10 said human rights was not on the agenda. Saudi is a major defence customer of Britain. 

Asked if the UK was selling its principles cheaply for the sake of trade and arms deals, she replied: 'No we are not doing that.

The talks in Riyadh, pictured, were due to focus on trade and prosperity but Mrs May said she also plans to raise human rights abuses in Yemen 

Mrs May, also visited Al Zahra School for Girls in Amman, Jordan, today, pictured, and said she hopes to inspire women in the country on her trip

Speaking about her trip, the PM said 'I hope that people see me as a woman leader and will see what women can achieve and how women can be in significant positions.'

'What we are doing is continuing the links that we have had for a long time with countries that are important to us around the world.' 

The PM told the BBC: 'We are concerned about the humanitarian situation. That's why the UK last year was the fourth largest donor to the Yemen in terms of humanitarian aid - £103 million. We will be continuing with that.

'And, yes, we will be raising the humanitarian issue. We believe it is important that we recognise the threat that there is in terms of people's lives. We will be supporting that through the aid and support that we give.'

Asked whether she would be raising human rights issues with her Saudi hosts, Mrs May said: 'The important thing for the United Kingdom when we meet people and we want to raise issues of human rights - and that may be in a number of countries around the world - is if we have the relationship with them, then we are able to do that.

'So, rather than just standing on the sidelines and sniping, it's important to engage, to talk to people, to talk about our interests and to raise, yes, difficult issues when we feel it's necessary to do so.'

Labour called on Mrs May to halt weapons exports to the state immediately and urged her to back an independent investigation into war crimes in the conflict. 

Leader Jeremy Corbyn said: 'Numerous human rights organisations, including the UNHRC and Amnesty International, have documented the dictatorial Saudi monarchy's shocking human rights record.

'The Saudi-led coalition bombing in Yemen, backed by the British government, has left thousands dead, 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and three million refugees uprooted from their homes.

'Yemen urgently needs a ceasefire, a political settlement, and food aid, not more bombing. British-made weapons are being used in a war which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.' 

He added: 'As it stands, the British-Saudi relationship is damaging to the people of Saudi Arabia, Britain and the wider Middle East, and helping to export insecurity to the rest of the world.

'Unless the Prime Minister challenges the Saudi regime over its abuses this week, it will be clear she is ready to sacrifice human rights and security on the altar of the arms trade.' 

The Prime Minister has been urged to use the rare meeting with the Crown Prince to lobby him to stop the Saudi military killing civilians in a war in Yemen

The Saudis back the war-torn Yemen's internationally recognised government against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Britain has continued to allow arms sales, with more than £3.3 billion of exports since the bombing began in March 2015.

At least 10,000 people have been killed during the war, according to the United Nations.

No 10 yesterday said: 'For the most part, the Saudi visit is part of the attempt to showcase the UK as an outward looking and global country.

'The discussions will mostly be focused on defence and prosperity issues.'

The spokesman said Yemen and human rights were not on the agenda for the summit but that Britain's strong relationship with Saudi Arabia meant difficult issues could be raised. 

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Mrs May to halt weapons exports to the state immediately and urged her to back an independent investigation into war crimes in the conflict