Remembering Princess Bajrakitiyabha: A Legacy of Legal Advocacy and Royal Potential
Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who had been in a coma for over three years, has passed away, as confirmed by the royal household. She collapsed in December 2022 due to a severe irregular heartbeat caused by a mycoplasma infection in her heart. Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the eldest of King Vajiralongkorn's seven children, born to his first wife, Princess Soamsawali, in 1978. She pursued a legal career, obtaining post-graduate degrees from Cornell University in the US and working in various legal positions in Thailand and abroad.
During her tenure as Thailand's ambassador to Austria from 2012 to 2014, she established ties with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and advocated for penal reform, particularly focusing on vulnerable women in the criminal justice system. Princess Bajrakitiyabha continued her advocacy for legal reform in Southeast Asia as the UNODC's Ambassador for the Rule of Law. She was also appointed as a chief of staff in her father's private bodyguard in 2021, holding the rank of general.
Known for her fitness enthusiasm and participation in long-distance runs, Princess Bajrakitiyabha was considered a potential successor to the throne in Thailand. King Vajiralongkorn, who has not designated an heir yet, has five sons, with Dipangkorn, his son from his third wife, being the presumed heir. However, concerns have been raised about Dipangkorn's readiness to assume the role of monarch in a country where the royal family holds significant influence.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha's unexpected death has left the issue of succession in Thailand unresolved. The country's strict lese majeste law prohibits public discussion on the matter, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the future leadership of the Thai royal family.