Thai king's eldest daughter dies aged 47 - Royal Palace

Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the eldest child of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 47, the Royal Palace announced. Her passing comes after a prolonged period of ill health, during which she spent nearly four years in a coma.

The princess, often referred to as Princess 'Bha', was a significant figure within the Thai monarchy. She had been hospitalized since December 2022 following a serious heart condition that led to her coma. Her condition had been a subject of public concern and speculation for an extended period.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha was widely regarded as a potential successor to her father, the King. Her public duties had been scaled back in recent years, and her prolonged illness had removed her from the line of succession, prompting discussions about the future of the Thai monarchy. Her death marks the end of a chapter for a royal often seen as a modernizing force within the traditional institution.