Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha Dies at 47 After Three-Year Coma
Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha Dies at 47 After Three-Year Coma
Thailand mourns the loss of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, 47, who passed away after a prolonged coma. Learn about her impactful life as a lawyer, diplomat, and advocate for justice.
Thailand is in mourning following the announcement of the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Vajiralongkorn. The Princess, who was 47, passed away on Thursday evening after being in a coma for more than three years, the royal household confirmed.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha had collapsed in December 2022 while exercising her dogs. Doctors attributed her sudden illness to a severely irregular heartbeat, caused by a mycoplasma infection in her heart. Despite receiving the "closest and most intensive care possible" at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, her condition progressively declined, leading to her passing.
Born on December 7, 1978, to King Vajiralongkorn's first wife and cousin, Princess Soamsawali, Princess Bajrakitiyabha was widely regarded as the most visibly accomplished member of the Thai royal family. Her death leaves an undeniable void, especially given her potential pivotal role in the country's as-yet-unclear royal succession.
The Princess was an exemplary figure with a distinguished career. She trained as a lawyer, earning two post-graduate degrees from Cornell University in the United States. Her professional journey included working briefly at the Thai mission to the United Nations in New York, followed by significant roles within the Attorney-General's offices in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand.
From 2012 to 2014, she served as Thailand's ambassador to Austria, where she cultivated a strong relationship with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). A passionate advocate for justice, she championed penal reform, with a particular focus on improving conditions for vulnerable women in prison—a crucial issue in Thailand, which has one of the world's highest numbers of female inmates. Upon her return to Thailand, she continued her advocacy as the UNODC's Ambassador for the Rule of Law in Southeast Asia, striving for reforms within Thailand's criminal justice system, known for often handing down severe sentences.
Her passing marks a profound loss for Thailand, both for the royal family and for the countless lives she touched through her dedication to law and justice.
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