Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ dies after 20 years in coma
Funeral prayers for Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled set to take place in Riyadh on Sunday
DUBAI: Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, widely known as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince”, has died after spending nearly 20 years in a coma. He was 35.
The royal court confirmed the news on Saturday, stating that funeral prayers will be held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh following Asr prayer on Sunday.
At just 15, the prince sustained severe brain injuries and internal bleeding in a traffic accident while studying in London in 2005. Despite receiving medical care from leading specialists, he never regained full consciousness. The accident occurred while he was training as a military cadet in the UK.
Public sympathy
According to Saudi Gazette, the prince’s condition drew widespread sympathy, with people across the Arab world regularly praying for his recovery. His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, had insisted on keeping him on life support throughout the years, citing faith in divine will. Videos occasionally surfaced showing minimal movement, including a 2020 clip of the prince lifting his fingers in response to family members.
False hope
Just weeks before his death, false reports of his recovery had gone viral online, further highlighting the public’s long-held hope for a miracle. His passing has been met with an outpouring of condolences across the region.