Thai princess dies at 47 after long coma, Royal Palace says

Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at age 47, the royal palace announced Friday. The princess had been hospitalized since December 2022 following a sudden loss of consciousness due to a heart condition.

She was flown to Bangkok for treatment, but her condition worsened due to an intra-abdominal infection, colitis, low blood pressure, arrhythmias, and blood clotting disorders, according to a palace statement. The princess died on Thursday evening.

Born in 1978, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, known as Princess Pa, was a prominent figure in public life. She pursued higher education in law at Cornell University, earning both a Master's and Doctorate degree. Her career included roles as an attorney in the Thai Office of the Attorney-General and as Thailand's ambassador to Austria, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

Princess Pa also founded a charity focused on improving the lives of female prisoners, particularly those who were pregnant while incarcerated. In 2017, she was appointed a UN goodwill ambassador for the rule of law in Southeast Asia. She later joined the army, achieving the rank of general and serving in the Royal Security Command.

As one of King Vajiralongkorn's three children with formal titles, she was eligible to ascend the throne. The palace will conduct royal funeral rites, and the government is expected to announce a period of national mourning.