BANGKOK: Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 47 after being hospitalised for more than three years, the Royal Household announced.
The princess died on Thursday evening at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, according to the palace statement. She had been receiving treatment since December 2022 after losing consciousness while taking part in a dog-training event in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The palace previously said her condition was linked to a heart problem caused by a mycoplasma infection. In May this year, the Royal Household reported that her health had worsened due to infections affecting several organs.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, also known as Princess Bha, was one of the most prominent members of Thailand royal family. She was widely known for her legal, diplomatic and social welfare work, particularly in areas involving justice reform and the treatment of women in prison.
Born on December 7, 1978, she was the only daughter of King Vajiralongkorn and his first wife, Princess Soamsawali. She studied law in Thailand and later obtained postgraduate degrees from Cornell University in the United States.
She served in Thailand legal sector and later represented the country as ambassador to Austria from 2012 to 2014. She also worked closely with international organisations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, where she promoted rule-of-law initiatives and prison reform.
Her work on female prisoners was especially significant in Thailand, where prison overcrowding and drug-related offences have long been major issues. She was associated with efforts to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of women in detention.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha also held a senior role in the Royal Security Command. In 2021, she was appointed chief of staff in the King private bodyguard unit and held the rank of general.
Her death comes at a sensitive time for Thailand monarchy. King Vajiralongkorn has not publicly named an heir, although public discussion of royal succession remains highly restricted under Thai law.
The Royal Household is expected to announce further details on mourning arrangements and royal ceremonies.
Sources: Royal Household announcement, Reuters, Associated Press.
