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Al Jazeera English1 min read
Thailand’s princess Bajrakitiyabha dies aged 47 after years in a coma
TL;DR
Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand has died at the age of 47 after nearly four years in a coma due to severe health complications. She had been hospitalized since December 2022 following heart problems and multiple organ infections.
Key points
- Princess Bajrakitiyabha died at age 47
- She was in a coma for nearly four years
- Hospitalized since December 2022
- Suffered from heart problems and organ infections
- Held multiple degrees and served in various roles
Mentioned in this story
Princess Bajrakitiyabha MahidolUN office on drugs and crimeCornell UniversityRoyal Security Command
The eldest child of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has died aged 47, the palace has said, after nearly four years in a coma.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, known in Thailand as Princess Bha, had been in hospital since December 2022 when she became gravely ill after having heart problems while out training her dogs.
There had been few updates regarding her health since her hospitalisation, though in early May the palace said her medical condition had worsened as a result of multiple infections in several organs and physicians were unable to stabilise her irregular heart rate.
In April, physicians discovered a stomach infection that led to inflammation in her intestines, causing her blood pressure to fall and her heartbeat to become irregular. Her kidney function and breathing had been supported through medical equipment, palace statements said.
Born in 1978 to then-Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and his wife, and cousin, Princess Soamsawali, Bajrakitiyabha held several degrees, including a doctorate from Cornell University. She served as an ambassador to Austria, as well as in the attorney general’s office, the royal security command, and as a goodwill ambassador to the UN office on drugs and crime. Bajrakitiyabha also campaigned for the rights of female prisoners.
Her death will raise questions about succession – a sensitive issue in Thailand where public discussion of the monarchy is limited by a strict lese majesty law. Criticism of the royal family can lead to up to 15 years in prison on a single charge.
Bajrakitiyabha was considered by many analysts to be a well-suited heir to the throne, though this has never been addressed officially.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn with Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol on the left and Queen Suthida Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
The king has married four times and has seven children. Bajrakitiyabha was one of only three of his children to hold a royal title, along with Princess Sirivannavari, 38, and Prince Dipangkorn, 20.
Q&A
What caused Princess Bajrakitiyabha's death?
Princess Bajrakitiyabha died after suffering from severe health complications, including heart problems and multiple organ infections.
How long was Princess Bajrakitiyabha in a coma?
She was in a coma for nearly four years before her death.
What roles did Princess Bajrakitiyabha hold during her lifetime?
She served as an ambassador to Austria, worked in the attorney general's office, and was a goodwill ambassador for the UN office on drugs and crime.
