The Royal Court of Thailand, one of the most secretive dynasties in the world, is going through one of the most delicate periods in its recent history. Following the death of the Queen Mother last October, attention has once again turned to Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), who has remained in a coma for three years.
The latest medical report has intensified concerns. Despite lung and kidney support, antibiotics, and medications designed to stabilize her blood pressure and heart rate, her condition has worsened due to a severe and uncontrolled infection affecting several vital organs. Meanwhile, the medical team continues to provide comprehensive treatment and constant monitoring.
© NurPhotoThree Years Later, Anxiety Deepens Within the Chakri Dynasty
It was in December 2022 when the then-de facto heir to the Thai throne suffered a heart attack while walking her dogs in Khao Yai National Park, located more than two hours away from one of the Royal Family’s primary residences. At that time, rumors began to surface regarding the princess’s possible death.
However, the Royal Court itself was responsible for denying those reports, announcing that the princess had suffered a serious heart condition. For this reason, she was airlifted by helicopter to Bangkok, where she appeared to be “stable to a certain extent,” as official sources confirmed at the time.
© NurPhotoHowever, after more than three years in a coma, the Royal Court has issued a new statement updating the princess’s health status, revealing the growing concern among members of the Royal Family and those who closely follow the day-to-day operations of the institution.
Full Statement from the Bureau of the Royal Household
“The medical team treating Her Royal Highness has further reported that, since April 2026, they have detected an infection in the abdomen resulting from inflammation of the large intestine. This has caused unstable conditions, including low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and abnormal blood clotting,” official sources explained, adding a new layer of worry to the delicate health condition of the princess, whose prognosis worsens over time.
“Despite continuous support for lung and kidney function, various antibiotics, and medications to boost blood pressure and control heart rhythm, Her Royal Highness’s condition has worsened, indicating a severe and uncontrolled infection that is disrupting the function of several vital organs,” the statement also highlighted, confirming that the medical team “continues to provide comprehensive treatment and is closely monitoring the princess’s condition.”
© Michael CampanellaThe Silent Heir of the Chakri House
Over time, the Royal Court of Thailand has progressively reported on the evolution of the health of the 47-year-old princess. However, it was between 2023 and 2024 when the situation began to change, a moment when the Chakri Dynasty considerably reduced updates related to the princess. Nevertheless, in 2025, and despite the constant rumors surrounding her condition, the Bureau of the Royal Household once again denied the speculations, while simultaneously confirming that the princess’s health continued to deteriorate.
As they explained then, doctors had detected a severe blood infection, in addition to other complications that today manifest as a prolonged worsening of her delicate health.
Her personality and approachability were such that many came to consider Princess Bajrakitiyabha as a true figure of continuity within the Chakri House and even as a potential queen worthy of succeeding to the Thai throne. This deep institutional involvement, combined with her solid diplomatic background, is now overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding her fragile health.
© JACK TAYLORSuccession Uncertainty in Thailand
Amid a complex line of succession, marked by the exclusion of several sons of the current monarch and existing doubts surrounding the male heir, Bajrakitiyabha was considered for years by a large part of the population as the de facto heir to the throne. So much so that her growing influence within the institution even opened a debate on a potential modification of succession laws to allow a woman to one day ascend the Thai throne. However, the severe heart condition she suffered three years ago halted any possibility of change within the Crown, leaving the future of the monarchy up in the air once again.
The Education of a Woman Without a Throne
Despite the heavyweight male tradition carried within the Thai monarchy, Princess Bajrakitiyabha always stood out for her solid academic background, focused primarily on law and international relations, and aimed to project Thailand’s image to the rest of the world. The eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn graduated with a law degree from Thammasat University and an international relations degree from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, both in Thailand. She later expanded on this academic background in the United States, where she earned a master’s degree in law and a doctorate, which ultimately established her as one of the most highly educated and respected women within the Thai Royal Court.
© Mark CuthbertNevertheless, all of this now rests in the hands of a destiny as uncertain as it is unpredictable, leaving the future of the Thai monarchy and a still-unknown line of succession hanging in the balance. At 71, Rama X has not publicly named a successor, fueling questions about the future of the Crown. In recent weeks, the name of his son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, has also begun to circulate widely, though his youth and health issues could work against him.
For now, the final word remains solely with the monarch. That is why, as long as this situation persists, the figure of Princess Bajrakitiyabha remains suspended between hope and uncertainty, putting on pause not only the future of her life, but also part of the destiny of one of the most secretive monarquies in the world.
© SOPA Images
