Riyadh: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, widely known as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” has died at the age of 36, nearly two decades after falling into a coma. His passing marks the end of one of the most poignant and enduring personal tragedies in the Saudi royal family.
His death was confirmed by his family over the weekend. In a heartfelt message posted on social media, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, wrote: “With hearts full of faith in Allah's decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away to Allah's mercy today.”
Funeral prayers will be held on Sunday after the Asr prayer at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, the family announced.
Prince Al-Waleed fell into a coma in 2005 at the age of 15 after suffering a severe brain haemorrhage in a car accident in London. He was brought back to Saudi Arabia and admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained in a vegetative state for nearly 20 years.
Over the years, he received extensive medical treatment from top specialists in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Spain, but never regained full consciousness. Despite the prognosis, his father steadfastly refused to withdraw life support, choosing instead to remain by his son’s bedside throughout the ordeal. His devotion captured the hearts of people across the kingdom and beyond, symbolising hope and unyielding parental love in the face of overwhelming odds.
Born in April 1990, Prince Al-Waleed was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal, a prominent member of the Saudi royal family. His condition, and his family’s determination to keep him alive, drew widespread national attention and made him a quiet symbol of faith, resilience, and familial devotion in Saudi Arabia.
With IANS inputs