Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Saudi royal Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled Al Talal, known as “The Sleeping Prince,” has died after spending nearly two decades in a coma.
The prince passed away on July 19, 2025, according to a statement from his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, as reported by Saudi Gazette. His funeral prayers were held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Born in April 1990, Alwaleed was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud and a great-grandson of the kingdom’s founder, King Abdulaziz. Though not in the immediate line of succession, Alwaleed held an esteemed position within the royal family as the grandson of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz.
Prince Alwaleed fell into a coma in 2005 following a car accident while studying at a military academy in London. The crash left him with severe brain trauma and internal bleeding. He was treated at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support for 20 years.
Throughout the years, Alwaleed’s story drew international sympathy and public interest. Millions followed updates on his condition, hoping for a recovery that never came. In 2015, doctors reportedly advised the family to consider removing life support, but his father refused.
Read Also:
He believed there’s still hope for his son to awaken from the coma and recover. In 2019, brief signs of response such as slight finger movement and head gestures sparked fresh hopes, though no further progress followed.
Alwaleed celebrated his 36th birthday on April 22, with many on social media continuing to express hope for the recovery of the so-called “Sleeping Prince.” But fate had other plans. His two-decade-long slumber came to an end.
His passing marks the end of a long and tragic chapter in the Saudi royal family. He was laid to rest with honors befitting his royal lineage.
(Raidi/Agung)
