BANGKOK - Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at age 47. The Bureau of the Royal Household confirmed her death Thursday evening at a Bangkok hospital, where she had been treated since falling unconscious in December 2022.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared a period of national mourning, describing the princess as a moral legacy for Thailand. She will lie in state at the Grand Palace before receiving funeral honors according to royal tradition.
A Cornell-educated lawyer, the princess was a prominent advocate for justice reform. She championed the Kamlangjai project, focusing on the rehabilitation of incarcerated women, and served as a UN goodwill ambassador. Her advocacy contributed to the adoption of the Bangkok Rules regarding female prisoners.
Her illness began during a military dog training exhibition. While Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti remains the presumptive heir, the princess’s extensive public service had fueled speculation about her potential role as regent. Her death leaves a void in the royal family’s diplomatic and social welfare efforts.