Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Dies at 47 After Years in Coma

The eldest child of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, has died at the age of 47 after spending nearly four years in a coma, according to the royal palace. Known in Thailand as Princess Bha, she had been hospitalized since December 2022 after collapsing during dog training because of a heart condition. In recent months, the palace said her condition had deteriorated, with multiple infections affecting several organs and doctors unable to stabilize her irregular heartbeat. In April, physicians found a stomach infection that spread inflammation to her intestines, causing her blood pressure to drop further and her heart rhythm to worsen. Her kidney function and breathing were supported by medical equipment.

Born in 1978 to then-Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and his cousin-wife Princess Soamsawali, Bajrakitiyabha was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished members of Thailand’s royal family. She earned several degrees, including a doctorate from Cornell University, and built a career in public service. Her roles included serving as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, working in the attorney general’s office and royal security command, and acting as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. She also advocated for the rights of women prisoners, earning recognition for her legal and humanitarian work.

Her death is likely to reignite discussion over Thailand’s royal succession, a highly sensitive subject in a country where public debate about the monarchy is tightly restricted. Thailand’s lese majesty law carries severe penalties, with criticism of the royal family punishable by up to 15 years in prison per charge. Although never officially named as heir, Bajrakitiyabha had long been seen by many analysts as a strong candidate for the throne because of her education, public profile, and royal responsibilities.

King Vajiralongkorn has been married four times and has seven children. Bajrakitiyabha was one of only three children to hold a royal title, alongside Princess Sirivannavari and Prince Dipangkorn. Her possible role in the future of the monarchy had been the subject of speculation for years. Some observers believed she could have served as regent for Dipangkorn, who is reported to have learning difficulties, while others suggested she might have become Thailand’s first ruling queen. Thailand has never had a reigning queen.

The king’s family history has also been marked by estrangement and controversy. His four other sons have lived abroad since the 1990s after their mother, Sujarinee, was publicly divorced amid accusations of adultery. Princess Sirivannavari was brought back to Thailand and raised within the royal household. The estranged sons returned to Thailand in 2023 after decades away, but later said they had been denied entry in 2025.

Bajrakitiyabha’s mother, Princess Soamsawali, retained her royal title after the divorce and remains an important figure in the monarchy. Another of Vajiralongkorn’s former wives, Srirasmi Suwadee, lost her royal title after corruption allegations involving her family.