Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha has made multiple headlines recently. Bajrakitiyabha who was the eldest of King Vajiralongkorn’s seven children, passed away on June 11, 2026. She was forty-seven-years-old and had spent more than three years in a coma.
As per a report shared by BBC, the princess had been unconscious since December 2022, when she collapsed during a public engagement.
Bajrakitiyabha was born to King Vajiralongkorn and his first wife and cousin, Princess Soamsawali. The princess trained as a lawyer and even earned two postgraduate degrees from Cornell University in the United States, working at the Thai mission to the United Nations in New York for a spell, before heading back home to the Attorney General’s offices in Bangkok.
As per a report shared by BBC, things took a turn for the worse in April 2026, when doctors found an infection in her abdomen tied to inflammation of the large intestine. Her blood pressure and heartbeat both gave cause for concern, and her condition kept deteriorating from there.
The Thai government shared the news of her passing in an official statement on June 12.
“The Bureau of the Royal Household announced on 12 June 2026 that Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati Kromluangrajasarinisiribajra Mahavajrarajadhita passed away peacefully at 19:48 hr on 11 June 2026 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok,” the statement read.
Prime Minister leads nation in Bajrakitiyabha’s mourning as crowds gather outside hospital:
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed the nation in a televised speech after the news broke. As per a report shared by the Associated Press, Charnvirakul spoke about what this loss meant for Thailand.
“This loss is not merely bad news announced to the people, but an immeasurable grief in the hearts of the entire nation,” he said.
Anutin Charnvirakul also spoke about the princess’s legacy, calling her
“A pride of Thailand”
“Her commitment to building a society of kindness, justice, and equality, will forever remain as a moral legacy for the nation, a guiding light for generations of Thais,” he added.
A small group of mourners gathered at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, where the princess had been treated. Most held framed or laminated photos of her throughout the years. Pattamaporn Kaewkityakorn shared that she had arrived Thursday and spent the night at the hospital to show her support for the princess, unaware the announcement of her passing was coming the next morning.
“I know she was sick, but I wished there were a miracle,” she said.
“I was saddened and shocked,” she added.
Bajrakitiyabha was also known for her active involvement in justice reform efforts. She is best known for her Kamlangjai, or “Inspire,” project, which worked towards rehabilitating incarcerated Thai women ahead of their release.
Bajrakitiyabha championed ending violence against women as UN Women National Ambassador for Thailand:
As per a report shared by UN Women, Bajrakitiyabha was appointed a UN Women National Ambassador to Thailand in September 2008. Her ambassadorship opened up the organization to a much wider audience across the country and helped bring together multiple stakeholders around the shared goal of tackling violence against women. The princess also served as the face of a nationwide public awareness drive that saw Thailand gather more than three million signatures for UN Women’s global Say NO to Violence against Women campaign.
The princess also spoke openly about Thailand’s contribution to the cause, adding that
“I take pride in saying that Thailand’s support to the global UNIFEM [now UN Women] Say NO to Violence against Women Campaign is second to none. I also note with appreciation the national ownership that has evolved around this process. It is indeed a strong foundation upon which coordinated efforts to end violence against women and girls in Thailand have been and will continue to be built.”
Edited by Ryan D’souza