Saudi Arabia's 'Sleeping Prince' passes away after 20 years in coma: A father's heartbreaking tale of hope, perseverance and final goodbye
Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, the name that showed the world what 'a life frozen in time' looks like, has now passed away. The Prince, 36, had been in a coma for 20 years after a car accident.
Intensive care, prayers, top-notch medical support, and medical boards stood witness to a 20-year journey of sleeping in silence-one of the longest coma cases in recent medical history, rightly earning him the title 'The Sleeping Prince'.
Why the label 'Sleeping Prince'?
Born into the Saudi royal family, Prince Alwaleed grew up with dreams of a bright future—but a short-lived one. At the age of 15, the prince was involved in a tragic car accident that left him unconscious ever since.
The medical board confirmed that regaining full consciousness and living a 'normal life' like before was, in no way, a probable scenario. After intense brain injuries and internal bleeding, surviving even 20 hours seemed miraculous.
But his family did not give hope. A life that could barely hold on for 20 hours endured for 20 years ,2005 to 2025, leaving people wondering how love can sustain even the frailest of links between life and death.
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This miracle gave rise to the title 'Sleeping Prince', as the world collectively waited for the day he might wake.
How social media saw this journey over the last 20 years:
Without having a social media account or posting algorithm-supported reels daily, Prince Alwaleed remained the talk of the town multiple times. The most recent instance came just a month ago, when a video went viral claiming the prince had woken up and reunited with his family. It turned out to be misleading—the video actually featured Saudi billionaire and motorsport personality Yazeed Mohamed Al-Rajhi, not Prince Alwaleed.
Rumors of his recovery have repeatedly surfaced, but most were false. The truth is, over the past 20 years, his father explored every possible medical avenue—sometimes resulting in a finger movement, sometimes a brain response. These small signs kept the family going, backed by hope, until today.
Credit:X/@calm_933
A father's tale to tell:
What began as a father's dream to send his son to military school so he could return more prepared to carry forward the royal legacy ended on July 19, 2025, with the words:
"With hearts that believe in God's will and destiny, and with great sadness and sorrow, we mourn our dear son, Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
May God have mercy on him, who passed away today."
After almost 20 years of emotional turmoil—facing the question countless times of whether to keep his son on life support or let him go—he chose the former. He dedicated his life to his son, showing the world what 'hope' truly looks like. His belief in divine healing kept him beside his son's bedside for two decades.
Funeral arrangements:
The funeral prayer for men will be held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh on July 20, following the Asr prayer. For women, the prayer will take place at King Faisal Specialist Hospital after the Dhuhr prayer. Condolences will be received over three days—Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (July 20th, 21st, and 22nd).
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