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Saudi Arabia’s Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal, affectionately dubbed the “Sleeping Prince” due to his nearly two-decade-long coma, has passed away at the age of 36, as confirmed by his family over the weekend.
The announcement of his death, shared widely on social media platforms, brings to a close a poignant chapter that resonated with many across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
He had been in a coma since 2005, following a severe car accident in London when he was just 15 years old. The incident left him with a significant brain hemorrhage, and he was taken to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.
For many years, he remained on a ventilator in a vegetative state, never regaining consciousness despite consultations with numerous specialists.
In his social media tribute, the Sleeping Prince’s father quoted a verse from the Holy Quran, stating: “O tranquil soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him]. Enter among My [righteous] servants and enter My Paradise.”
He added, “With hearts that accept God’s will and decree, we mourn our beloved son, Prince Al-Waleed Bin Khalid Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. May God have mercy on him. He passed away today.”
Prince Khalid announced that the funeral prayer will be held on Sunday, with mourning gatherings scheduled for the following three days—Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday—for those wishing to pay their respects.
At the time of the accident, the prince was enrolled in a military college.
Throughout the two decades, his family remained steadfast in their hope for his recovery, caring for him in a medical facility in Saudi Arabia and regularly updating the public on his condition.
In April of this year, social media circulated a video falsely claiming that the prince had awakened, featuring old footage with added text announcing his supposed return to consciousness after 20 years. The video gained traction quickly, with many believing it to be true, but it was later confirmed that he had not awakened.
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