Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha dies aged 47 after illness
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn appoints his consort as queen in 2019
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 47 after spending more than three years in a coma.
Known as Princess Bha, she was a lawyer by training and dedicated her efforts to justice reform, notably through her ‘Inspire’ project, which aided incarcerated Thai women.
She was hospitalised in late 2022 after falling unconscious during dog training, with the palace attributing her condition to a mycoplasma infection linked to pneumonia.
Her health steadily deteriorated over the three-year period, with reports in May indicating multiple organ infections, kidney and breathing support, and an unstable heart rate.
Her extensive public service had led to speculation about a significant role in future royal succession, and her passing is considered a loss of a widely adored public figure in Thailand.
