Princess Bha: Possible Thai Throne Heir Dies at 47

Princess Bha, the eldest child of the King of Thailand, passed away at the age of 47 in a Bangkok hospital. Her death occurred after she was in a coma for three and a half years, according to the royal palace. She had been kept on life support since collapsing in December 2022 during a jog with her dogs in northern Thailand.

In May, the palace revealed that the princess suffered from an abdominal infection that led to low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. Her passing adds complexity to the already unclear succession plans for the Thai monarchy. At 73, King Maha Vajiralongkorn has not announced an heir publicly. Some believed Princess Bha could have been Thailand’s first reigning queen due to her lineage.

Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati was the sole child of the king and his first wife, Princess Soamsawali, who is also his cousin. The king has been married four times and is a father to seven children. He disowned four sons from his second marriage to actress Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, whom he married post-1979.

Succession to the throne is not strictly hereditary, allowing the monarch to appoint an heir according to his choice. The Thai constitution also allows the privy council to choose a princess for the throne if no successor is named.