Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati dies after over 3 years in coma

Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, the eldest daughter of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has passed away at the age of 47, the Bureau of the Royal Household announced.

The Princess passed away peacefully at 7:48 pm on Thursday, at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, ending a medical crisis that held the nation in suspense for more than three and a half years.

A long health battle

Princess Bajrakitiyabha, affectionately known to the public as "Princess Bha," had been hospitalised and in a coma since December 15, 2022, after collapsing due to a severe heart condition while training her dogs for a military competition in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Throughout her prolonged hospitalisation, her vital organs were supported by medical equipment. However, palace officials reported a sharp decline in her health in late May 2026.

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The Bureau of the Royal Household revealed that she had developed a severe infection in her abdominal cavity caused by inflammation of the large intestine, resulting in unstable vital signs, low blood pressure, and abnormal blood coagulation. Despite the exhaustive efforts of the royal medical team, she succumbed to her illness.

A life of public service and royal duty

Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the only child from King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s first marriage to Princess Soamsawali. She built a distinguished career in law, diplomacy and public service alongside her royal responsibilities.

Educated in Thailand, Britain and the United States, she earned a law degree from Cornell University before serving as a prosecutor and later as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria. Reflecting on her varied career during a 2012 visit to Cornell, she described herself as a “hybrid,” blending the roles of prosecutor, criminal lawyer and diplomat.

Beyond her diplomatic work, Bajrakitiyabha held several positions within the United Nations system and became a prominent advocate for women’s rights, particularly efforts aimed at improving conditions for female prisoners.

As a senior member of Thailand’s royal family, she occupied an important ceremonial role in a society where the monarchy remains highly revered. Considered especially close to her father, she was appointed to a senior position within his bodyguard command in 2021, a year before her collapse and subsequent hospitalisation.

Her death also renews attention on Thailand’s royal succession. King Vajiralongkorn, 73, has seven children from four marriages but has yet to formally name an heir, although succession laws traditionally favour male descendants.