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

Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, has passed away at the age of 36 after spending more than two decades in a coma.

The tragic news was confirmed by his father in a heartfelt statement shared on social media.

The prince became widely known as the “Sleeping Prince” after a horrific car accident in London left him in a coma at just 15 years old.

At the time, he was studying in the UK as a military cadet. The crash caused severe brain injuries and internal bleeding, and despite emergency treatment, he never regained full consciousness.

Since the accident, Prince Al Waleed was cared for at King Abdulaziz Medical City, where he remained on life support until his passing.

His devoted father, Prince Khaled, refused to consider withdrawing life support, holding out hope for a miracle for over 20 years.

In his statement, Prince Khaled expressed deep sorrow, writing:

“With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow and sadness, 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 today.”

Over the years, Prince Khaled made frequent visits to his son’s hospital room, often accompanied by his younger sons, Saud and Mohammed.

During these visits, he would call for prayers, hoping his son would one day awaken.

There were occasional minor physical movements from the prince that gave the family glimmers of hope, but his condition remained critical until the end. His hospital room became a space for prayers and support, as visitors came to pay their respects and offer comfort to the family.

Funeral prayers for Prince Al Waleed are scheduled for Sunday at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

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