Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitabha has died after spending three years in a coma, the Royal Palace in Bangkok confirmed on Friday. She was 56 years old. The princess collapsed during a training run for her beloved pet dogs in December 2022 and was subsequently diagnosed with a severe cardiac condition.
She had not regained consciousness since. Her passing marks the end of a prolonged period of public anxiety and private royal grief. Princess Bajrakitabha was the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the only child of his first wife, Princess Soamsawali.
As a senior member of the Chakri dynasty, she occupied a unique position in Thai society: a lawyer and diplomat by training, she served as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria from 2012 to 2014 and held the rank of lieutenant general in the royal guard. Her illness had placed a spotlight on the question of succession in a kingdom where the monarchy is legally protected from public discussion. The king, her father, has two sons who are largely absent from public life.
The palace has announced a 100-day mourning period, during which flags will fly at half-mast and entertainment events are to be subdued. The government has yet to comment on whether there will be a period of national mourning beyond the royal decree. The princess’s death is a loss of a figure who had sought to modernise the monarchy’s image through her charitable work and international engagements.
She was particularly known for her advocacy for prisoners’ rights and her work with the United Nations on women’s issues. Thailand’s lese-majeste laws, which criminalise criticism of the royal family, mean that public reaction will be carefully managed. The palace is expected to issue further statements in the coming days regarding the funeral arrangements and the future of the royal line.
For now, the queen and the king’s other children are expected to assume additional public duties. The 100-day mourning period will be observed with the traditional white-robed court ceremonies and Buddhist prayers.
