Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal: Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ dies after 19 years in coma

 Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal: Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ dies after 19 years in coma

The Sleeping Prince: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid dies after 19 years in coma, ending a two-decade vigil marked by hope and unwavering faith.

Prince Al‑Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud—widely known as the “Sleeping Prince”—has died at age 36 on July 19, 2025, after spending nearly two decades in a coma. Born in April 1990, he was the eldest son of Prince Khalid bin Talal Al Saud and a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.

His life took a tragic turn in 2005, at just 15 years old, when he was involved in a severe car accident in London while training at a military academy. The crash caused massive brain trauma and internal bleeding, leaving him in a deep coma from which he never recovered.



Following the accident, Prince Al‑Waleed was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support under constant medical supervision. His father, Prince Khalid bin Talal, refused repeated offers to withdraw care, guided by deep faith and hope. Over the years, he shared small signs of his son’s reflexive movements—like finger twitches—in messages and videos on social media, keeping public attention on what became known as the enduring story of the “Sleeping Prince”.

On July 19, the prince’s father announced his passing via a solemn post on X, writing:

“With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son … may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away today”.

Funeral prayers were held on July 20 in Riyadh. Men prayed at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque after Asr, and women prayed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital following Dhuhr, with condolences received through July 22.

Prince Al‑Waleed’s two-decade-long coma touched hearts across the Middle East and beyond. His story became a powerful symbol of enduring hope, the strength of a father’s love, and the complex interplay between science, faith, and family resilience.



READ ALSO

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

Timeline of the Health Crisis

2005 – The Accident:
At just 15 years old, Prince Al-Waleed was involved in a serious car accident in London while undergoing military training. The vehicle crash caused critical internal bleeding and severe brain trauma, which immediately rendered him unconscious. Medical professionals diagnosed him with a traumatic brain injury, and he slipped into a coma shortly after being admitted to hospital care.

2006–2010 – Transferred to Saudi Arabia:
Once stabilized enough to be moved, Al-Waleed was flown back to Saudi Arabia and admitted to the intensive care unit of King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. From this point onward, he remained in a persistent vegetative state. Throughout this period, doctors reportedly gave little hope for recovery, but his father refused to give up.

2010s – Hope and Controversy:
Despite bleak medical predictions, the family maintained unwavering faith. Prince Khalid bin Talal publicly opposed the idea of disconnecting his son from life support, citing religious beliefs and hope for a miracle. During this time, the prince’s story became widely known, earning him the moniker “The Sleeping Prince” in media reports and across social media.

Videos occasionally emerged showing slight involuntary movements, such as finger twitches, blinking, or hand lifts. While doctors generally classified these as reflexes common in long-term comatose patients, the family interpreted them as signs of potential improvement.



2015 – Viral Video and Renewed Attention:
A video that surfaced online appeared to show the prince raising his hand as a response to someone speaking. This caused a flurry of speculation and renewed optimism among well-wishers. The footage went viral, further amplifying his status as a symbol of enduring faith in the Arab world. However, no verified medical assessment confirmed that he had regained consciousness or cognitive function.

2020–2024 – Continued Vigil:
The prince’s condition remained largely unchanged. His family provided updates from time to time, usually on anniversaries or religious holidays. Prince Khalid repeatedly expressed gratitude for the public’s prayers and reaffirmed his belief that his son could still recover.

July 19, 2025 – Death Announced:
On this day, Prince Khalid confirmed his son’s death in a heartfelt post on social media platform X. He wrote:

“With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son… may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away today.”

The funeral prayer was held the following day, July 20, at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh for men, while women prayed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital after Dhuhr.

A Symbol of Faith, Family, and Fragility

Prince Al-Waleed’s nearly 20-year coma stands as one of the longest documented cases of persistent unconsciousness in a high-profile individual. While many medical experts may have labeled his condition as irreversible early on, his family’s firm decision to continue life support was rooted in religious conviction and emotional devotion.

The story of the “Sleeping Prince” drew sympathy from across the Muslim world. He became a figure of emotional resonance—representing not only tragedy, but also the enduring hope and spiritual belief in divine healing. For almost two decades, the Al Saud family maintained a quiet vigil beside his hospital bed, rejecting clinical despair in favor of divine possibility.

His death, while long anticipated, still triggered a wave of mourning across the Arab world. It also reopened conversations around the ethics of prolonged life support, the balance between faith and science, and the emotional cost borne by families of long-term coma patients.

The prince’s passing closes a chapter marked by resilience, both personal and collective. His name may now fade from headlines, but the emotional gravity of his story remains—reminding the world of how fragile life is, how powerful belief can be, and how love can endure even in silence.



Related post