Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled: The ‘Sleeping Prince’ Passes Away After Two Decades in Coma
Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal has died in Riyadh after spending twenty years in a coma due to a traumatic brain injury sustained in a car accident in 2005.
Known internationally as Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince,’ he passed away on Saturday, July 19, at the age of 36.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, confirmed the tragic news. He expressed his grief with the words: “O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter My Paradise… With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, we mourn our beloved son.”
A report from Khaleej Times indicated that Prince Alwaleed had been in a coma since his severe car accident while attending a military academy in London. Following surgery, he suffered a brain hemorrhage that left him unresponsive for the duration of his life.
**Details of Prince Alwaleed’s Funeral**
The same report noted that funeral prayers are scheduled for July 20, Sunday. For men, the service will occur after the Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. Women’s prayers will take place after Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
Condolences will be accepted over three days from July 20 to July 22. Men can visit Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Palace located in the Al-Fakhriyah district while women may visit the palace following Maghrib prayer.
**A Father’s Commitment**
According to reports, Prince Khaled bin Talal held onto hope for his son’s recovery and consistently refused to withdraw life support throughout the years. During significant Islamic occasions such as Ramadan’s final nights and Eid celebrations, he offered fervent prayers for his son and frequently shared emotional updates on X.
In June this year, during the third day of Eid al-Adha, Prince Khaled visited Alwaleed alongside his other sons and publicly implored for his son’s recovery.
After the accident occurred, Prince Alwaleed was admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh where he was placed on a ventilator. His family sought assessments from medical professionals worldwide in hopes of reviving him; however, he never regained consciousness. Although they occasionally observed small movements indicative of life that gave them some hope, his condition remained unchanged over two decades.
**FAQs:**
1. **Who was Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled?**
– He was known as the “Sleeping Prince,” a Saudi royal who remained comatose for twenty years following a car accident in 2005.
2. **What caused his coma?**
– A traumatic brain injury from a car accident while studying in London led to a brain hemorrhage.
3. **Where and when will the funeral be held?**
– The funeral prayer for men is set for Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh on July 20 after Asr prayer; women’s prayers will occur at King Faisal Specialist Hospital post-Dhuhr.
4. **Where will condolences be received?**
– Condolences can be given at Prince Alwaleed’s palace in Al-Fakhriyah for men and at the same location for women from Sunday through Tuesday.
