But the kingdom’s poor record on free speech was highlighted in the final weeks of Abdullah’s rule by the case of Raef Badawi, a blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail.

Badawi’s Twitter account retweeted a comment on Abdullah’s death saying: “God forgive him and have mercy on him.”

Rights group Amnesty International said earlier that Saudi Arabia had postponed for a second time on medical grounds Badawi’s flogging, which had been due to resume on Friday. He has already received 50 lashes.

Campaigners for women’s right to drive referred only in passing to the king’s death, saying on their Twitter account: “For all creatures whether big or small — nothing remains but your deeds and your grave — and only God lasts forever”.

They posted a picture of the king but then followed it with photographs of Loujain Hathloul and Maysaa Alamoudi, two women’s rights activists detained since early December.