Tragedy in Saudi Arabia: ‘Sleeping Prince’ dies at 35 after two decades in coma

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, known to the world as the “Sleeping Prince,” has died at the age of 35. He had been in a coma for 20 years following a severe car accident as a teenager in London.

The news was announced on social media platform X by his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud—an established member of the Saudi royal family and cousin of billionaire Prince Al Waleed bin Talal:

“With hearts believing in Allah’s will and judgment, and with deep sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—may Allah have mercy on him—who passed away today.”

{يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ، ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً، فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي، وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي}

With hearts believing in Allah’s decree and filled with profound sadness, we mourn our dear son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who has passed away… pic.twitter.com/QQBbMWGOOG

— Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz (Abu Alwaleed) (@allah_cure_dede) July 19, 2025

Tragic fate

Prince Al-Waleed was born in April 1990. In 2005, at the age of just 15, he was studying in London as a military cadet when he was involved in a serious traffic accident, according to 24.hu. The collision left him with a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Although he received immediate medical attention and treatment from both American and Spanish specialists, he never regained consciousness.