Thailand is mourning the loss of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who died at the age of 47 after battling multiple health complications and spending nearly four years in a coma.
The Thai royal palace announced on Friday that the princess passed away on Thursday evening following a deterioration in her condition caused by an intra-abdominal infection, colitis, low blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders and blood clotting complications.
Popularly known as Princess Pa, she had been hospitalised since December 2022 after suddenly losing consciousness due to a heart-related condition while visiting the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. She was later airlifted to Bangkok for specialised treatment and remained under intensive medical care.
Born on December 7, 1978, Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the daughter of then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and Princess Soamsawali. Throughout her life, she played a prominent role in Thailand’s public service, legal and diplomatic sectors.
She earned advanced law degrees from Cornell University, including a Master’s degree and a Doctorate, before serving as an attorney in Thailand’s Office of the Attorney-General between 2006 and 2011.
Her diplomatic career saw her appointed as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia from 2012 to 2014, before she returned to public service in Bangkok.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was also widely recognised for her advocacy work on behalf of female inmates. She established a charitable initiative focused on improving the welfare and rights of women in prison, particularly pregnant inmates and mothers.
In 2017, she was appointed a goodwill ambassador for the rule of law in Southeast Asia by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, reflecting her longstanding commitment to legal reform and social justice.
The princess later joined the military and, in 2021, was granted the rank of general. She subsequently served as chief of staff within the Royal Security Command.
As one of King Vajiralongkorn’s three children holding formal royal titles, Princess Bajrakitiyabha was among those constitutionally eligible to succeed to the Thai throne.
Her death comes less than a year after the passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother at the age of 93, marking another significant loss for the royal family.
The royal palace said funeral rites will be conducted according to royal tradition, while the Thai government is expected to announce a period of national mourning in honour of the late princess.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha leaves behind a legacy defined by public service, legal advocacy, diplomatic achievement and dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable members of society.
