Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha dies aged 47 after years in a coma

Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, known in Thailand as Princess Bha, has died at the age of 47, the palace announced. She had been in a coma since December 2022, when she fell seriously ill after experiencing heart problems while training her dogs.

Her health worsened in early May 2026, with the palace reporting multiple organ infections and an inability to stabilize her irregular heart rate. In April, doctors discovered a stomach infection that led to intestinal inflammation, causing low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Her kidney function and breathing were supported by medical equipment.

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 ambassador to Austria, in the attorney general’s office, the royal security command, and as a UN goodwill ambassador on drugs and crime. She also campaigned for the rights of female prisoners.

Her death has raised questions about succession—a sensitive issue in Thailand, where a strict lese majesty law limits public discussion of the monarchy. Analysts considered her a well-suited heir, though this was never officially addressed.

The king has seven children from four marriages. Only three hold royal titles: Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Sirivannavari (38), and Prince Dipangkorn (20). Some speculated she might have acted as regent for Dipangkorn, who is reported to have learning difficulties, or become queen herself—Thailand has never had a ruling queen.

Four other sons have lived abroad since the mid-1990s after their parents’ divorce. They visited Thailand in 2023 but claimed in 2025 they were denied entry. The king divorced Bajrakitiyabha’s mother in 1991, but she retains her title. Dipangkorn’s mother, Srirasmi Suwadee, was stripped of her title after corruption accusations.