Saudi Arabia is mourning the loss of Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known worldwide as the “Sleeping Prince”, who has died at the age of 36 after spending 20 years in a coma.
The prince tragically passed away on Saturday, nearly two decades after a devastating car accident in London that left him with a severe brain haemorrhage. He was just 15 years old at the time and had been studying at a military college in the UK.
Following the crash in 2005, Prince Al-Waleed was flown back to Saudi Arabia, where he was hospitalised at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. Despite the passage of time, he never regained consciousness, though his condition had sparked global attention and sympathy over the years.
His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, confirmed his son’s death in a deeply emotional post on X (formerly Twitter).
“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,” he wrote.
Nicknamed the “Sleeping Prince” by many around the world, Al-Waleed became a symbol of hope and perseverance in the Kingdom, with his family publicly holding onto hope for his recovery for two decades. Videos and updates of his condition were often shared on social media, with royal supporters frequently offering prayers and well-wishes.
His death has sparked an outpouring of grief both within Saudi Arabia and abroad, as the public reflects on the tragic fate of a young royal whose life was dramatically altered at such a young age.
