Princess Bajrakitiyabha, King Vajiralongkorn’s eldest child, has passed away at age 47 after almost 4 years in a coma, the Bureau of the Royal Household said today (12 June).

The Princess has been hospitalised since December 2022, when it was reported that the Princess collapsed from a heart condition while training her dogs for the 2022 Thailand Working Dog Championship of the Royal Thai Army at the Military Dog Battalion in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

The Bureau of the Royal Household said in a statement on 7 January 2023 that the Princess collapsed due to severe cardiac arrhythmia relating to a mycoplasma infection. She is unconscious and is being given antibiotics, while her heart, lungs, and kidneys continue to be treated with medication and medical equipment.

On 15 August 2025, the Bureau of the Royal Household said she was being treated for a severe bloodstream infection. On 19 August 2025, the Bureau said in another statement that she had low blood pressure and was being closely monitored. These two statements, the fourth and fifth issued by the Bureau regarding the Princess’ health condition, came two years after her hospitalization.

In today’s statement, the Bureau said that she suffered from an abdominal infection, low blood pressure, irregular heartbead, and abnormal blood coagulation. Despite the best efforts from the medical team, her condition continued to deteriorate. She passed away yesterday (11 June) at 19.48.

Known among Thais as “Princess Bha,” she was the only one of King Vajiralongkorn’s 7 children born to his first wife, Princess Soamsawali. The princess was the only one of the King’s children whose parents retain their royal titles. King Vajiralongkorn divorced Princess Soamsawali in 1991, but Princess Soamsawali retains her titles and remains a key member of the Royal Family, often appearing at royal events and performing royal duties. Meanwhile, the King’s other ex-wives have been stripped of their titles.

She previously worked at the Thai Permanent Mission to the UN and the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok. She has also campaigned for the rights of incarcerated women, having encouraged the Thai government to submit a resolution to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social Council that eventually led to the adoption of the “Bangkok Rules,” a set of rules regarding female offenders and prisoners.

In February 2021, she was transferred to the Royal Security Command, the military unit responsible for the security of the King and his family, and given the rank of general. She previously held the position of Chief of Staff of the Royal Guards. In August 2025, while remaining hospitalised, she was named Deputy Commander of the Royal Security Command and given the rank of senior general.

Her hospitalisation had raised questions about succession to the Thai throne. Although the King has yet to formally name an heir to the throne, Princess Bajrakitiyabha has been recognised by observers of the Thai monarchy as the most viable candidate due to her family background and public standing.

Thailand has never had a reigning queen. Women are excluded from the line of succession under the current Palace Law, which means that Prince Dipangkorn, the King’s youngest child and only officially recognised son, would be considered first in line ahead of his sisters. However, the 2017 Constitution states that, in the event where the throne becomes vacant and the King has not appointed an heir, the Privy Council may submit the name of a successor to the throne to the Cabinet for the approval of the National Assembly, the combined parliament of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In this case, a princess may be named as heir.

Events may go ahead, says PM

The Cabinet met this morning (12 June) to discuss preparations for the upcoming funeral rites, while the Thai national flags at Government House have been lowered to half-mast. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said after the meeting that all events are allowed to go ahead and that the public should go about their business as usual, noting that he believes people are all aware of appropriate conduct during the mourning period.

When asked if entertainment events such as concerts can still go ahead, Anutin said that he believes everything should go ahead as normal. He noted that, following the death of Queen Sirikit in October 2025, events were held as usual with participants observing a moment of silence at the beginning. He said such observance is already appropriate.

The Prime Minister's overseas travel will also go ahead in cases where he has scheduled meetings with other government heads. Government agencies have been instructed to keep their trips short and focused on the main tasks.