Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Thai king's eldest child, dies at 47

Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, died Thursday evening at age 47. The Bureau of the Royal Household said she had been suffering from an abdominal infection and "her condition continued to worsen" until she "passed away peacefully."

The princess had been hospitalized since December 2022 after falling ill suddenly. In May, the palace said her health had deteriorated and she relied on medical devices to support her lung and kidney functions.

Known in Thailand as "Princess Bha," she was the only child from the king's first marriage to Princess Soamsawali. Bajrakitiyabha trained as a prosecutor and diplomat. She earned a law degree from Cornell University and served as Thailand's ambassador to Austria. She also held U.N. roles and advocated for women's rights, including prison conditions.

The palace announced that her body will lie in state at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Her funeral will be held "with the highest honors according to royal tradition."

Thai law restricts discussion of the royal family. Lese-majeste statutes carry prison sentences of up to 15 years per charge. The king, who has seven children from four marriages, has not publicly named an heir.