Princess Bha of Thailand, Second in Line to the Throne, Dies at 47

Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the eldest child of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and once viewed by some analysts as a possible successor to the throne, has died in a Bangkok hospital after spending three and a half years in a coma. She was 47. The royal palace said her death followed a prolonged period on life support that began after she collapsed while running with her dogs in northern Thailand in December 2022. In May, the palace said she had developed an abdominal infection that led to low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat.

Her death adds new uncertainty to Thailand’s already complicated royal succession. King Vajiralongkorn, 73, has not publicly named an heir. Under Thailand’s system, succession is not automatic, and the king may appoint his own successor. The constitution also allows the privy council to name a princess to the throne if no heir has been designated. Because Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the king’s only child with his first wife, Princess Soamsawali, and had an unusually strong public profile, many observers regarded her as one of the most plausible candidates to become Thailand’s first ruling queen.

The Thai monarch has been married four times and has seven children. His reign and personal life have often drawn controversy, and he has disowned four sons born to his second wife before their marriage. The question of succession has therefore long been a sensitive issue in Thai politics and society. Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s collapse in 2022 intensified speculation about who might eventually follow the king, especially as no clear heir had been confirmed.

Her death also comes during a period of growing frustration among Thai youth toward the monarchy. In recent years, large protests have called for reforms to the royal institution and to Thailand’s strict lèse-majesté law, which criminalizes criticism of the royal family. At the same time, many monarchy supporters saw Princess Bajrakitiyabha as someone who could help restore public respect for the royal household. Unlike her father, she was widely regarded as free of scandal and had built a respected professional record in law, diplomacy, and public service.

Born on December 7, 1978, and also known as Ong-Bha, she studied in England at Heathfield School before returning to Thailand for a law degree from Thammasat University. She later earned both a master’s degree and a doctorate from Cornell Law School in the United States. She worked as an assistant prosecutor, served at Thailand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and was later appointed ambassador to Austria, Slovakia, and Slovenia from 2012 to 2014.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha was also known for her work on women prisoners’ rights. She promoted international efforts to improve conditions for female inmates and played a role in advancing the United Nations’ Bangkok Rules, which address the treatment of women prisoners and non-custodial measures for female offenders. She also supported projects aimed at helping incarcerated mothers reintegrate into society after release.

She is survived by her parents and six half-siblings.