en.malanginspirasi.com – Thailand Royal family mourned the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha who passed away at the age of 47.
The announcement was stated Friday, June 12th morning by the family.
The princess had been in a coma for over three years following her collapse while exercising her dogs in December 2022.
According to the palace statement, her medical team provided intensive care, but her condition steadily declined.
She passed away at 19:48 local time on Thursday at Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Doctors previously attributed her initial collapse to a severe heart arrhythmia triggered by a mycoplasma infection.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was widely regarded as the most accomplished and publicly active member of the current royal family.
Born on December 7, 1978, she was the eldest of King Vajiralongkorn’s seven children, born to his first wife, Princess Soamsawali.
Unlike traditional roles often expected of royalty, the princess pursued a rigorous career in law and international diplomacy.
She earned two postgraduate degrees in law from Cornell University in the United States.
After a brief stint at the United Nations in New York, she served as Thailand’s Ambassador to Austria from 2012 to 2014, establishing strong ties with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
She became a prominent voice for criminal justice reform, focusing heavily on the plight of vulnerable female inmates.
Later, as the UNODC’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Rule of Law in Southeast Asia, she advocated against the disproportionately harsh sentences handed down for minor drug offenses in Thailand.
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In 2021, her father appointed her chief of staff of his personal security entourage, elevating her to the rank of general. She was also well-known as a dedicated fitness enthusiast and long-distance runner.
The death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha leaves a profound void in the Thai monarchy, particularly regarding the unresolved question of royal succession.
King Vajiralongkorn, 73, has yet to formally designate an heir.
While traditional Thai custom favors male succession, a 1974 constitutional amendment opened the door for a woman to ascend the throne.
Because of her sharp intellect and close relationship with her father, many royalists viewed Princess Bajrakitiyabha as the most capable candidate—either to rule as reigning monarch or to serve as regent.
King Vajiralongkorn has five sons. Four were disowned following his second divorce in 1996 and currently reside in the US.
His youngest son, Prince Dipangkorn (from his third marriage), is the presumed heir, though public observers have raised questions regarding his readiness to take on the highly influential role.
With the passing of the princess, the future of the Thailand throne remains highly uncertain.
