Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal: Did Saudi ‘Sleeping Prince’ wake up from coma?

A recent claim circulating on social media suggesting that Saudi Arabia’s Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, famously referred to as the “Sleeping Prince”, has regained consciousness after nearly 20 years in a coma is false.

According to a report by NDTV, the viral video being shared online does not feature Prince Al-Waleed but rather shows a different individual entirely.

Prince Al-Waleed fell into a coma in 2005 following a car accident while studying at a military college in the United Kingdom. Since then, he has remained on life support at the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.

Over the years, several videos have surfaced online showing minimal movements, such as the prince moving his fingers or slightly turning his head. These moments, while hopeful to many, do not signify that he has regained full consciousness, and medical experts have maintained that his condition remains unchanged.

The report clarified that the video which recently went viral, sparking renewed speculation about his recovery, actually shows Yazeed Mohamed Al-Rajhi, a different patient entirely.

Despite these clarifications, social media continues to fuel misinformation about the prince’s health. The royal family, particularly his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, has remained steadfast in their decision to keep him on life support, stating that life and death are ultimately in God’s hands.

The false report underscores the dangers of spreading unverified information, especially concerning sensitive health issues. It also highlights the need for media literacy and the importance of checking reliable sources before sharing content online.