Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati has died at the age of 47 after suffering prolonged health complications that left her in a coma for nearly four years.
The Thai royal palace said the princess died on Thursday evening following a deterioration in her condition, which was attributed to a range of medical issues, including infection, colitis, low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms and blood clotting disorders.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was hospitalised in December 2022 after collapsing while visiting the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.
The loss of consciousness was linked to a heart condition, and she was later transported by helicopter to Bangkok for specialised treatment. She remained in a coma from that point until her death.
Widely known as Princess Pa, she played a prominent role in Thailand’s public life, combining royal duties with a legal and diplomatic career.
She studied law at Cornell University, where she completed both a master’s degree and a doctorate. She later worked as an attorney at the Thai Office of the Attorney General between 2006 and 2011.
Her career also took her into diplomacy, serving as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia from 2012 to 2014 before returning to legal work in Bangkok.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was particularly recognised for her work supporting vulnerable groups, especially female prisoners.
She founded a charitable initiative aimed at improving the rights and conditions of women in custody, including those pregnant while in prison.
In 2017, she 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, reflecting her growing international influence.
In addition to her legal and humanitarian work, the princess also held a senior position in the military. In 2021, she joined the army and was promoted to general, later serving as chief of staff of the Royal Security Command.
As one of King Vajiralongkorn’s three formally recognised children, she was considered eligible to succeed to the throne under Thailand’s constitutional framework.
The palace has announced that royal funeral rites will be held, with the government expected to declare a period of national mourning.
Her death comes less than a year after the passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother at the age of 93.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha leaves a legacy defined by public service, legal reform efforts and advocacy for marginalised groups.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. T...
Beijing is using Shanghai’s artificial intelligence (AI) forum to promote its governance agenda and showcase domestic alternatives to U.S. technolo...
Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat have signed a cooperation agreement to support sustainable urban development in the East Zangezur Economic Region. The partn...
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
A woman whose husband was sucked out of the window of a plane during a Ryanair flight has recounted pulling her husband to safety. Serbian couple Svetlana Maksimovic and Ljubisa Karovic had just settled into a flight with the airline last week, when a loud bang pierced the hum of engines.
Azerbaijan is moving to speed up and simplify trade with partner countries along the Middle Corridor by expanding its Single Window information system.
Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Ukraine early on Thursday, saying it had hit military and industrial facilities in Kyiv, as well as key port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
A woman whose husband was sucked out of the window of a plane during a Ryanair flight has recounted pulling her husband to safety. Serbian couple Svetlana Maksimovic and Ljubisa Karovic had just settled into a flight with the airline last week, when a loud bang pierced the hum of engines.
Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Ukraine early on Thursday, saying it had hit military and industrial facilities in Kyiv, as well as key port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region.
Uganda is expected to discharge its final Ebola patient on Thursday, beginning the 42-day countdown required before the country can be declared free of the virus if no new cases emerge, according to a government spokesperson.
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for three people missing after a pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz, leaving four people dead or presumed dead.
The U.S. Mint has begun producing a new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump as part of commemorations marking the United States' 250th anniversary, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment