By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi / Posted July 22, 2025
The world up on July 19, 2025 to the announcement of the Saudi Royal Court of the death of Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known as the “Sleeping Prince,” at the age of 36. The prince had been in a coma for nearly 20 years following a tragic car accident in 2005, which left him with severe brain injuries at the age of 15.
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Al-waleed was great-grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdulaziz and nephew of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. The young royal was studying at a military college in London when the accident occurred. The crash resulted in critical brain damage and internal bleeding, rendering him dependent on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh since then. He was sustained by a ventilator and tube feeding for nearly two decades, becoming a poignant symbol of hope and perseverance across the Arab world and beyond where he trended on social media compassion index.
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As far back as 2015, medical experts had advised that the life support be discontinued due to minimal brain activity but his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, stoically refused, clinging to a steadfast hope for a possible miracle. Holding to thin thread of faith, he once said, “If God had wanted him to die, he would have been gone”. As the years rolled by, family members watched for even faintest sign of reflex movements such as finger or head twitches, though medical experts said all that was not indicative of active consciousness.
The late Prince’s story resonated deeply especially during his birthdays. His 36th birthday in April 2025 was very remarkable as with witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of prayers and emotional support on a global scale through all the popular social media platforms. In June 2025, a viral video falsely claiming he had awakened sparked a frenzy of emotive comments but was swiftly debunked as footage of Saudi rally driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi recovering from a separate accident. The incident highlighted the emotional weight of the prince’s journey and the public’s longing for his recovery.
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Following his passing, Prince Khaled shared a heartfelt message on X, quoting from Koran, the Muslim faith Book, expressing profound grief. The Saudi Royal Court confirmed the subsequent funeral prayers which held on July 20 at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
The story of the “Sleeping Prince” is a profound testament to human community in times of deep emotional loss and grief, without predilection to race, gender, religion and status.