Omotayo Adigun
Prince Al‑Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, widely known as the “Sleeping Prince,” has died at age 36, his family confirmed.
The prince had been in a coma for two decades following a serious car accident in London in 2005, when he was just 15 years old.
The accident, during his studies at a London military college, resulted in severe brain injury and internal bleeding, leading to a vegetative state. He was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support, cared for by his devoted father, Prince Khaled bin Talal. Despite consultations with international medical experts, his condition never improved.
Families of prominent members of the Saudi elite often uphold prolonged medical care as an expression of deep familial and religious faith. Occasional signs like minor finger movements in 2020 gave his family renewed—but brief—hope, serving as a moment of national emotional reflection.
On July 19, his father announced the passing in a statement on X:
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“With hearts that believe in Allah’s decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son… may Allah have mercy on him.”
Funeral prayers are scheduled for Sunday at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, followed by a three-day mourning period.
Prince Al-Waleed was a nephew of billionaire investor Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. His two-decade medical vigil became a lasting symbol of endurance, hope, and fatherly devotion, resonating deeply within Saudi society and across the region.