Saudi ‘Sleeping Prince’ dies after 20 years coma

Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, the prince's father, announced the passing of Prince Al-Waleed on X (Formerly Twitter) on July 19, the latter also shared a black-and-white photo of Prince Al-Waleed with his eyes closed. The Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also announced Al-Waleed's death. He was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained under constant monitoring and life support. Born in April 1990, Al-Waleed became known as the "Sleeping Prince," as he had been in a coma since 2005 when he was 15. He was studying as a military cadet in London when he got into a devastating car accident that caused severe brain injuries leading to his long-term unconsciousness. “With hearts that believe in God’s decree and are content with His will, we mourn our beloved son, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud. May God have mercy on him and grant him a place in Paradise.” Prince Khaled wrote in Arabic. Throughout the years, the prince was seen occasionally in clips showing slight movement, such as lifting a finger but never regained full consciousness. Some viewed them as miraculous, while medical experts remained cautious, citing the complex nature of comas and limited scientific evidence of consciousness. Despite the prolonged silence surrounding his condition, Prince Al-Waleed’s story resonated deeply with the Saudi public and beyond.