He died after 20 years in a coma: Who is the “Sleeping Prince”?
Prince Walid bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who had been in a coma for over 20 years following a tragic car accident in 2005, has passed away at the age of 36.
Kokcha News Agency: Prince Walid bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, widely known as the “Sleeping Prince”, has passed away after spending more than two decades in a coma. Born in 1990, Prince Walid was the eldest son of Prince Khalid bin Talal Al Saud.
In 2005, at the age of 15, Prince Walid was involved in a severe car accident while studying as a military student in London, UK. The accident caused significant brain damage and internal bleeding, leaving him in a coma. He was subsequently transferred to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he received continuous medical care at the King Abdulaziz Medical City.
Despite efforts by American and Spanish medical specialists, Prince Walid never regained consciousness. Over the years, he occasionally showed signs of movement, such as finger twitches, raising hopes for a potential recovery. However, these hopes were never realized.
His father, Prince Khalid, consistently rejected calls to remove his son from life support, expressing unwavering faith in his son’s recovery. Prince Khalid often stated that only Allah had the right to decide his son’s fate.
Prince Walid passed away on July 19, 2025, at the age of 36. Following his death, thousands of condolences poured in on social media, with the hashtag #SleepingPrince trending on various platforms.
Prince Khalid shared a black-and-white photo of his son on his X (formerly Twitter) account, writing, “With hearts that believe in Allah’s will and destiny, we mourn the loss of our beloved son, Prince Walid bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who passed away today.”
During the years Prince Walid was in a coma, many people visited the hospital to offer prayers and support, demonstrating the deep affection and respect held for the “Sleeping Prince.”
