Thailand in mourning after Princess Bajrakitiyabha's death

Thailand is mourning Princess Bajrakitiygabha Narendira Debyavati, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who died at the age of 47 following more than three years of intensive medical care on Thursday.

Footage captured on Friday shows mourners grieving and holding framed and laminated portraits of the princess at a mourning area at Bangkok's King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Widely known as Princess Bha, she collapsed while training dogs for an army exhibition in Nakhon Ratchasima province in December 2022. The palace later said she had suffered a severe heart arrhythmia following a mycoplasma infection.

The Princess had remained in a coma ever since – more than three years – receiving treatment at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

A palace update in May said doctors had detected an abdominal infection caused by inflammation of the large intestine. Her condition had become unstable, with low blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat and blood‑clotting abnormalities.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described her death as an "immeasurable grief in the hearts of the entire nation", praising her contribution to public service.

Her death also removes one of the Thai royal family’s most experienced and popular public figures. A 1974 amendment to the constitution allows a woman to take the Thai throne, so Princess Bajrakitiyabha had long been seen as a possible successor or as a regent to help Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti after their father’s death.