Thailand’s royal household has announced the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who had been in a coma for over three years. She was 47 years old.
The princess collapsed in December 2022 while exercising with her dogs.
Medical professionals attributed her condition to a severely irregular heartbeat resulting from a mycoplasma infection affecting her heart.
With her passing, the Thai royal family has lost one of its most distinguished members, who could have played a crucial role in the uncertain future of the monarchy.
Born on December 7, 1978, to King Vajiralongkorn and his first wife, Princess Soamsawali, she was the eldest of the king’s seven children.
In a statement released Friday morning, the palace noted, “The medical team provided the closest and most intensive care possible, but her condition continued to decline progressively.”
She passed away at 19:48 local time (12:48 GMT) the previous day at Chulalongkorn Hospital.
A trained lawyer, Princess Bajrakitiyabha held two postgraduate degrees from Cornell University in the United States.
She briefly worked at Thailand’s mission to the United Nations in New York before returning home to serve in the Attorney-General’s offices across the country.
From 2012 to 2014, she represented Thailand as ambassador to Austria, where she established a relationship with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
She became an advocate for penal reform, focusing on vulnerable women incarcerated in Thailand, which has one of the highest female inmate populations globally.
Upon returning to Thailand, she was appointed as the UNODC’s Ambassador for the Rule of Law in Southeast Asia, continuing her efforts to reform the nation’s criminal justice system, particularly regarding harsh penalties for minor drug offenses.
In 2021, her father appointed her as chief of staff for his private bodyguard unit, granting her the rank of general. A passionate fitness enthusiast, she frequently participated in long-distance running events.
Her capabilities and the apparent confidence her father had in her made her a focal point of speculation regarding royal succession. King Vajiralongkorn, now 73, has yet to name an heir.
While Thai tradition dictates that a male should inherit the throne, a constitutional amendment in 1974 allows for a female ruler.
The king has five sons, however, four from his second marriage were disowned in 1996 and have since lived with their mother in the United States.
His fifth son, Dipangkorn, from his third wife, is viewed as the likely successor, though doubts about his readiness for kingship persist in a nation where the monarchy holds significant sway.
For many royalists in Thailand, Princess Bajrakitiyabha appeared to be the most promising candidate for succession, whether as queen or as regent to assist Prince Dipangkorn.
Her death leaves Thailand’s succession question unresolved, and the strict lese majeste laws prevent any public discourse on the matter.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong