BANGKOK, Thailand – International media outlets including Reuters and AFP via CBS News have reported the passing of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati at the age of 47, following a prolonged illness and nearly four years in a coma. According to statements from Thailand’s Bureau of the Royal Household, the Princess had been receiving treatment at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital since December 2022 after collapsing due to a cardiac condition while on an engagement in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The Royal Household said her condition deteriorated in recent weeks due to an abdominal infection caused by inflammation of the large intestine, along with low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, and blood-clotting complications. Despite extensive medical treatment, she passed away peacefully on the evening of June 11, 2026.
Widely known in Thailand as “Princess Bha” or “Princess Pa,” she was the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and was respected for her work in law, diplomacy, and social development. She earned a law degree from Cornell Law School, served as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, and worked extensively on legal and human rights initiatives, including programs supporting women in prisons. The Royal Household announced that funeral rites will be conducted with the highest royal honors in accordance with royal tradition, with her remains to lie in state at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Her passing has prompted an outpouring of grief across Thailand, with tributes from government leaders and members of the public recognizing her contributions to the nation over several decades.
