Thailand’s princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, a legal activist, has died aged 47, the Royal Palace stated on Friday (June 12, 2026).
Bajrakitiyabha, popularly known as Princess Pa, was the eldest child of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The Princess had been in a coma for nearly four years, after a sudden loss of consciousness caused by a heart condition while visiting the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.
Widely acclaimed for her legal and diplomatic efforts, Bajrakitiyabha was best known for her work in protecting the rights and improving the lives of incarcerated women. The Princess also held a prominent role in the public life of Thailand.
Born on December 7, 1948 to the then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and his first wife, Princess Soamsawali, Bajrakitiyabha studied law at Thammasat University then went to Cornell University in New York. At Cornell, she earned a master's degree in law and then a Doctorate. Following the completion of her studies, the Princess briefly worked at the UN Thai Mission in New York and then returned home to work as a Public Prosecutor. In 2017, she was appointed as the goodwill ambassador for the rule of law in Southeast Asia by the United Nations.
“Society cannot grow if there is instability and injustice,” Bajrakitiyabha said in a 2013 interview with The Associated Press.
“Without the rule of law, without a good justice system, it's always chaos,” she said. “I think the rule of law is a very important pillar to development, to economic growth, and of course to human rigBajrakitiyabha is survived by her parents and siblings.
The Princess is survived by her parents and siblings. The palace will hold royal funeral rites, while the government is expected to declare a period of national mourning.
(With agency inputs from PTI & Reuters)
