Saudi Arabia's "sleeping prince" passes away at age 36.

 

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known as Saudi Arabia’s "Sleeping Prince," passed away on July 19, 2025, at the age of 36, after nearly 20 years in a coma.

 The coma resulted from a devastating car accident in London in 2005, when he was 15 years old and studying at a military college. The accident caused severe brain injuries, including a brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding, leaving him in a vegetative state. He was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support, supported by a ventilator and feeding tube, for nearly two decades.

Despite medical advice in 2015 to discontinue life support, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, refused, maintaining hope for a miracle, often stating, "If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now." Over the years, the prince showed minimal signs of responsiveness, such as slight finger movements or head turns, notably in a 2019 video, which fueled hope but did not lead to recovery. 

His father and family, including his mother Reema and aunt Princess Rima, remained devoted, sharing updates and prayers on social media, which resonated widely across the Arab world.

The Royal Court announced his death via the Saudi Press Agency, and Prince Khaled confirmed it in an emotional post on X, quoting Quranic verses: "O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter My Paradise."

 Funeral prayers were held on July 20, 2025, after the Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh for men, and after Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital for women. Mourning gatherings took place over three days at Al-Fakhariya Palace, attended by royals, dignitaries, and supporters.Prince Al-Waleed, the eldest son of Prince Khaled and nephew of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, was a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and a great-nephew of King Salman.

 His story became a symbol of hope, faith, and familial devotion, with the hashtag "Sleeping Prince" trending after his passing, accompanied by widespread condolences online. Misinformation, such as a June 2025 viral video falsely claiming he had woken up, was debunked, clarifying the video showed another individual, Yazeed Mohamed Al-Rajhi.