Who was Prince Al-Waleed, Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’, who died after 20 years in coma? | World News – Hindustan Times
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Who was Al Waleed bin Khaled? Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ passes away after 20 years in coma
Renowned as the “Sleeping Prince”, Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud died after spending nearly two decades in a coma following a tragic car accident in London in 2005. His father opted to keep him on life support and used to often share social media footage. He was born in April 1990 and was nicknamed Dede by his family.
Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, who is a prominent Saudi royal and nephew of billionaire Prince Al Waleed bin Talal.
“With hearts believing in Allah will and decree, 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,” the mourning dad wrote in Arabic on X.
He added that the funeral service would be held on Sunday.
About Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled: Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud was born in April 1990 and was nicknamed Dede by his family. He was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud.
In 2005, he was injured in a car accident in 2005 while studying at a military college in London, reported the Mirror. At that time he was just 15-years-old.
In the accident, Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud sustained several severe brain injuries and internal bleeding. He fell into a coma and later transported to King Abdulaziz Medical City in the Saudi city of Riyadh. He remained in a coma until his death.
His father opted to keep him on life support and used to often share social media footage.
These post went viral over the years and garnered millions of views as he prayed for his son.
Who was Prince Al-Waleed, Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’, who died after 20 years in coma?
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled Al-Saud has died at the age of 36. He was 15 when he was involved in a car crash in London in 2005. The crash caused a brain haemorrhage and internal bleeding, leaving him in a deep coma. He remained on a ventilator for two decades, despite the prognosis. News of his death has led to an outpouring of condolences online, with the hashtag ‘Sleeping Prince’ trending in Saudi Arabia and beyond. He is the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud.
Al-Waleed, the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, was just 15 when he was involved in a high-speed accident in 2005 while studying at a military college in the United Kingdom.
The crash caused a brain haemorrhage and internal bleeding, leaving him in a deep coma from which he never recovered.
He was later moved to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on a ventilator for two decades. Despite the prognosis, Prince Khaled consistently refused to withdraw life support and remained hopeful that his son would one day wake up.
Confirming the death in an emotional post on X, Prince Khaled wrote, “With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, 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.”
He also quoted a verse from the Quran, “O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter among My servants and enter My Paradise.”
Over the years, Prince Al-Waleed’s case captured widespread attention across Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. His condition became a symbol of faith, resilience, and the unwavering bond between parent and child.
2019 video showed slight movement, but no recovery followed
In 2019, a video shared by the family appeared to show him moving his head and arm, sparking renewed hope, though no meaningful recovery followed.
Earlier this year, rumours falsely circulated on social media claiming he had emerged from his coma. The claims were swiftly denied by the royal family.
News of his death has led to an outpouring of condolences online, with the hashtag “Sleeping Prince” trending in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
“May Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled, rest in peace. Deepest sympathies to his loved ones,” one user wrote.
“Your time on earth was a blessing to your family and the world in general,” said another.
Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled: Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ dies after two decades in coma
Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled, also known as Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ has died after two decades in coma. His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, confirmed the news of his son’s passing on X (formerly Twitter) He wrote, “O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter My Paradise… With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow, we mourn our beloved son.” According to a Khaleej Times report, he has been in a coma since 2005 following a severe car accident while studying at a military academy in London. A brain hemorrhage during surgery left him unresponsive for the remainder of his life.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, his father, confirmed the news of his son’s passing. He wrote, “O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter My Paradise… With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow, we mourn our beloved son.”
According to a Khaleej Times report, Prince Alwaleed has been in a coma since 2005 following a severe car accident while studying at a military academy in London. A brain hemorrhage during surgery left him unresponsive for the remainder of his life.
Prince Alwaleed’s funeral details
The report added that funeral prayers will be held on July 20, Sunday. For men, it will be held after Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. The service for women will be held after Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
Meanwhile, condolences will be accepted over three days from July 20 to July 22. Men can visit Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Palace in the Al-Fakhriyah district while women can visit the palace after Maghrib prayer.
A father’s devotion
The report stated that Prince Khaled bin Talal, Alwaleed’s father, hoped for his son’s recovery and refused to withdraw life support over the years. Throughout sacred Islamic occasions, from the final nights of Ramadan to Eid, he offered heartfelt prayers for his son, often sharing emotional updates and invocations on X.
As per the report, in June this year, on the third day of Eid al-Adha, Prince Khaled visited Alwaleed with his other sons and pleaded publicly for his recovery.
After his accident, Prince Alwaleed was admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh and placed on a ventilator. His family called in medical experts from around the globe to assess his condition and hopefully revive him, but he never regained consciousness. While his family occasionally saw small movements that gave them hope, his condition remained the same for 20 years, the Khaleej Times report added.
FAQs:
1. Who was Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled?
He was a Saudi royal known as the “Sleeping Prince”, who remained in a coma for 20 years following a car accident in 2005.
2. What caused his coma?
He suffered a brain hemorrhage after a traumatic brain injury during a car accident while studying in London.
3. Where and when will the funeral be held?
The funeral prayer for men will take place at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh on July 20, after the Asr prayer. Women’s prayers will be held at King Faisal Specialist Hospital after Dhuhr.
4. Where will condolences be received?
Condolences will be received at Prince Alwaleed’s palace in Al-Fakhriyah and at Al-Fakhriyah Palace for women, from Sunday through Tuesday.
Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled, Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’, passes away after 20 years in coma; here’s what happened
Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 36, died on Saturday, July 19, after being in coma, for nearly two decades. He sustained a brain hemorrhage along with internal bleeding following a traumatic brain injury during a car accident when he was studying in London. His family brought in medical specialists from around the world to evaluate his condition and attempt to revive him, but he never regained consciousness.
“The Global Imams Council extends its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the esteemed Royal Family, on the passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, who passed away after a long struggle that lasted nearly twenty years following a tragic accident,” the Global Imams Council (GIC) said.
It added, “As we share the grief of the Royal Family on this solemn occasion, we recall with deep respect the patience and steadfastness demonstrated by his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, and his family as a testament to their profound faith in the will and decree of Allah. We pray that the Almighty Allah envelops the late Prince with His vast mercy, grants him a place in eternal Paradise, and bestows patience and solace upon his family and loved ones.”
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What happened to Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled? Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled sustained a brain hemorrhage along with internal bleeding following a traumatic brain injury during a car accident when he was studying in London.
He was taken to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh and put on a ventilator. His family brought in medical specialists from around the world to evaluate his condition and attempt to revive him, but he never regained consciousness. Although his family sometimes noticed slight movements that offered hope, his condition remained unchanged for 20 years, Khaleej Times reported.
Although Al-Waleed never fully regained consciousness, his father regularly shared videos capturing subtle physical movements, like the raising of his hands or fingers and chose to keep him on life support. He and other family members prayed for his son’s recovery.
Why was Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled in coma for 20 years? All about the 2005 tragedy
Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known as the The “Sleeping Prince,” breathed his last enduring twenty years in a coma. His was 36. He sustained injuries in a car accident in 2005 while attending a military academy in London. He later fell into a coma after suffering very serious brain injuries and intestinal hemorrhage. Later, he was sent to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he stayed unconscious until his passing. His father kept him on life support, asserting that life and death are solely in God’s hands.
The late Prince father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, a prominent Saudi royal and the nephew of wealthy Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, revealed the death of his son at a Saudi medical facility on Saturday, July 19.
“With hearts believing in Allah will and decree, 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,” the father of the deceased wrote in Arabic on X.
Prince Khaled also announced that the funeral service would take place on Sunday, July 20, and included a black-and-white picture of his son laying in a hospital bed with his eyes closed.
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Why was Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled in coma?
According to Gulf News and the Mirror, Prince Al-Waleed, who was born in April 1990 and affectionately referred to by his family as Dede, sustained injuries in a car accident in 2005 while attending a military academy in London. At that point of time, he was 15 years old.
The Prince later fell into a coma after suffering very serious brain injuries and intestinal hemorrhage. Later, he was sent to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he stayed unconscious until his passing.
During the twenty years when Al-Waleed was in a coma, his father chose to keep him on life support, asserting that life and death are solely in God’s hands.
He even posted videos of himself and other close family members praying for Al-Waleed’s recovery on social media.
His several posts, including Khaled decorating the Prince’s hospital room for festivals like Ramadan, Eid, and Saudi National Day, went viral and received millions of views over the years.
Al-Waleed’s dad frequently released video of his minor bodily reactions, including raising his hands and fingers, although he never really recovered.