Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ Dies After 20 Years in Coma at Age 36

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, known as Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’, has died at the age of 36. He had been in a coma for nearly 20 years following a major car accident in London in 2005, which happened when he was just 15 years old. The crash caused a brain hemorrhage and heavy internal bleeding. Since then, he was kept on a ventilator in the hospital but never fully regained consciousness.

Prince Al-Waleed’s father, Prince Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, confirmed the news of his son’s passing. He expressed his sadness by saying, “With complete trust in Allah’s will and destiny, and with great sorrow, we mourn the loss of our dear son, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. May Allah have mercy on him, as he has now returned to His care.” As reported by Khaleej Times, The funeral prayer for Prince Al-Waleed is scheduled for Sunday, 20 July, after the Asr prayer at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

How did the accident happen?

While studying at a military college in London, Prince Al-Waleed was involved in a car accident. After the incident, he was moved to King Abdulaziz Medical City Hospital in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, where he remained in a coma for almost 20 years. Even after all that time, his father never gave up hope that he would wake up and recover.

Who was Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’?

For the last 20 years, Prince Al-Waleed’s father looked after him and never agreed to stop his life support. Prince Al-Waleed was born in April 1990 and was the eldest son of Prince Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, a member of Saudi Arabia’s royal family. He was also the nephew of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.