Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Thai king's eldest daughter, dies at 47 after four years in coma
Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha, known as Princess Bha, died peacefully on Thursday evening in a Bangkok hospital, the royal palace announced. The 47-year-old had been in a coma since collapsing from a heart condition in December 2022.
The end of a four-year coma
Thailand is in mourning after the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, affectionately called Princess Bha. She died peacefully on Thursday evening, June 11, 2026, at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, according to a royal palace statement. The 47-year-old had been in a coma since December 2022, when she collapsed from a heart complaint while training her dogs in Nakhon Ratchasima. Her condition had significantly worsened in May, with doctors citing multiple organ infections, dropping blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmias. Medical machines supported her lung and kidney functions in her final days. On Thursday, her state became critical, and she passed away.
A nation's vigil
During the three and a half years she lay unconscious, Thais repeatedly gathered at a hospital altar bearing her portrait to pray and leave flowers. Similar scenes unfolded in temples across the country, where worshippers knelt before images of the princess. The royal household issued only infrequent updates on her health, and the public learned little about the specifics of her condition. She was never reported to have awakened after the initial collapse.
Diplomat and reformer
The daughter from King Vajiralongkorn’s first marriage, Bha earned a doctorate in law. She served as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria from 2012 to 2014 and also worked at the United Nations in New York. She was particularly respected for her charitable projects, especially campaigns to improve life for female prisoners. According to observers, she belonged to the king’s inner circle, a significant position given that the monarch, now 73, has not named an official successor.
Royal funeral and succession questions
King Vajiralongkorn ordered her body to be brought to the Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, where the public can pay their final respects. She will be laid to rest with the highest honors. The Grand Palace, a symbol of the Thai monarchy, is the historic and cultural heart of Bangkok. Her death removes a central figure from the royal inner circle and may fuel speculation about the line of succession, as the king has not declared an heir.
