BangkokReuters —
Princess Vajrakityaba Narendira Devyavati, the eldest son of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 47 after multiple health problems and nearly four years in a coma, the palace announced Friday.
The princess was hospitalized in December 2022 after suddenly losing consciousness due to heart disease while visiting the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. Bajrakitiyaba was flown by helicopter to the capital Bangkok for treatment.
She died on Thursday night after her condition deteriorated due to an intra-abdominal infection, colitis, low blood pressure, arrhythmia and a blood clotting disorder, the palace said in a statement.
Vajrakitiyaba, popularly known as Princess Pa, was born on December 7, 1978 to then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and his first wife Princess Somsawali.
In Thailand, she will be remembered for her prominent role in public life, her efforts to improve the lives of female prisoners, and her career as a diplomat.
She studied law at Cornell University, where she received her master’s and doctorate degrees, and worked as a lawyer at the Attorney General’s Office of Thailand from 2006 to 2011.
From 2012 to 2014, she served as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia before returning to the Attorney General’s Office in Bangkok.
She also founded a charity promoting the rights of female prisoners, particularly those who were pregnant while in prison.
In 2017, Ms. Bajrakitiyaba was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for the rule of law in Southeast Asia by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
She transferred to the Army in 2021, where she was awarded the rank of General and served as Chief of Staff of the Royal Security Forces.
The princess holds the official title of King Vajiralongkorn and was one of three children eligible for the throne under the constitution.
In October last year, the Queen Mother of Thailand passed away at the age of 93.
A royal funeral will be held at the palace, while the government plans to declare a period of national mourning.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
