Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha dies at 47
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and a prominent lawyer and public servant, has died at age 47 after being unconscious due to illness for three years.
- The princess was hospitalized in December 2022 with a mycoplasma infection and had been receiving care at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok.
- Bajrakitiyabha was known for her work in justice reform, particularly her Kamlangjai project aiding the rehabilitation of incarcerated women, and served as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria and a UN goodwill ambassador.
- Educated in law at Thammasat University and Cornell University, she earned a doctorate focusing on the rights of the accused and helped establish scholarships and exchange programs between Thailand and Cornell Law School.
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described her death as a profound national loss, praising her legacy of kindness, justice, and equality, which continues to inspire Thai society.