Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha Dies At 47
Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 47 after a prolonged illness. The princess had been in hospital since December 2022 after collapsing due to a heart condition while training dogs in northeastern Thailand.
Thailand Princess Bajrakitiyabha Dies
The Royal Palace confirmed that Princess Bajrakitiyabha died on June 11 after years of medical treatment. She had remained largely out of public life since her collapse in 2022 and was being treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok.
Her condition had reportedly worsened due to infections and complications affecting multiple organs. The palace is expected to oversee royal funeral rites, while Thailand prepares for an official mourning period.
Thai Royal Family In Mourning
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was widely known as Princess Bha or Princess Pa. She was the only child of King Vajiralongkorn and his first wife, Princess Soamsawali.
She studied law in Thailand and the United States and later served in Thailand’s legal and diplomatic sectors. She had also worked as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Legacy
The princess was known for her work on prison reform and women’s rights, especially programmes supporting female inmates. She also served as a United Nations goodwill ambassador for rule of law in Southeast Asia.
Her death is significant for Thailand’s monarchy, as she was often viewed as a senior royal figure with a possible role in succession discussions. However, Thailand has not publicly named a formal heir, and succession remains a highly sensitive subject.
