Key facts
- Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, died at 47.
- She had been in a coma since December 2022 after suffering heart problems.
- Her condition deteriorated in early May due to multiple organ infections.
- She held degrees from Cornell University and served as an ambassador to Austria.
- Her death prompts speculation about the royal succession in Thailand.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, the eldest child of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 47. The palace announced her death after she had been in a coma for nearly four years.
Princess Bha, as she was known, was hospitalised in December 2022 after experiencing heart problems while exercising. In the months that followed, her condition worsened due to multiple infections and unstable heart rhythms, according to palace statements. Physicians discovered a stomach infection in April that led to intestinal inflammation, causing a drop in blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.
Born in 1978, Princess Bajrakitiyabha held a doctorate from Cornell University and had a varied career, serving as Thailand's ambassador to Austria, working in the attorney general's office, and as a UN goodwill ambassador. She was also an advocate for the rights of female prisoners.
Her death is significant as it raises questions about the succession to the Thai throne, a topic subject to strict lese majesty laws that limit public discussion. Analysts had considered Princess Bajrakitiyabha a potential heir, though this was never officially confirmed. The King has seven children from four marriages. Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Sirivannavari, and Prince Dipangkorn are among his children who hold royal titles. There has been speculation that Princess Bajrakitiyabha might have served as regent for Prince Dipangkorn, who is reported to have learning difficulties, or become queen herself, a role Thailand has never had.
King Vajiralongkorn divorced Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s mother, Princess Soamsawali, in 1991, though she retains a royal title. The mothers of two of his sons, Sujarinee and Srirasmi Suwadee, have had their royal titles removed.