Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, famously known as Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince,’ has passed away nearly two decades after slipping into a coma following a tragic car accident. His death marks the end of a long vigil by his family and a nation that held out hope for his recovery.
Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, known across Saudi Arabia as the ‘Sleeping Prince’, has passed away after spending more than two decades in a coma following a catastrophic car accident.
Born in April 1990, Prince Alwaleed was the eldest son of Prince Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, a well-known member of the royal family and nephew of billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. At the age of 15, while undergoing military training in London, he was involved in a devastating road accident in 2005. The crash left him with severe brain trauma and internal injuries.
Despite undergoing intensive treatment involving leading American and Spanish specialists, the prince never fully regained consciousness. For more than 19 years, he remained in a persistent coma, with only brief, subtle movements offering glimpses of hope to his loved ones.
Prince Khalid, his father, rejected any notion of withdrawing life support and remained publicly committed to his son’s eventual recovery. The family often released videos showing the prince making faint physical responses during Quran recitations, which moved the public and drew waves of empathy.
The hospital room where Prince Alwaleed was cared for became a quiet symbol of faith and perseverance, regularly visited by well-wishers and members of the public who came to pray for him.
His passing has sparked national mourning in Saudi Arabia, with tributes pouring in for the young royal whose life was tragically halted in its prime.
