Princess Bajrakitiyabha Dies at 47 After Severe Infection Triggered Organ Failure
Updated
Updated · Bangkok Post · Jun 12
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Dies at 47 After Severe Infection Triggered Organ Failure
3 articles · Updated · Bangkok Post · Jun 12
Summary
Princess Bajrakitiyabha died at 7:48 p.m. Thursday at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Royal Household Bureau said, ending more than 3 years of hospitalization after her 2022 collapse.
An uncontrolled severe infection had been under close monitoring since May 21, while doctors said an April abdominal infection linked to large-intestine inflammation destabilized her condition.
That deterioration led to low blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat and abnormal blood clotting before multiple major organ systems were affected, according to the bureau's statement.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn ordered royal funeral rites with the highest honors, and the 47-year-old princess will lie in state at Phiman Rattaya Throne Hall in Bangkok's Grand Palace.
The princess was the king's eldest daughter and had remained a prominent royal figure since collapsing in December 2022 while training her dog in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
A princess's death creates a succession crisis. Will Thailand's strict royal silence law be pushed to its breaking point?
With Thailand's most promising heir gone, could a disowned prince from America now claim the throne?
After Princess Bajrakitiyabha: Thailand’s Succession Uncertainty and the Struggle for the Future of the Monarchy
Overview
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, the eldest daughter of Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn, passed away at 47 after a prolonged illness caused by a severe blood infection. Despite extensive medical efforts to support her lung and kidney functions, her health continued to decline and could not be reversed. Beyond her royal duties, she made a significant impact as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, where she built strong ties with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Her passing not only marks a profound loss for the nation but also leaves the royal succession at a crossroads, highlighting her enduring legacy in diplomacy and social reform.