Who was Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled AKA Sleeping Prince? Saudi Royal dies after 20 years in a coma
Born in 1990, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud and the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. His life took a devastating turn in 2005 when he was met with a serious car accident at the age of 15 in London. At the time, he was training as a military cadet. The accident caused severe brain injuries and internal bleeding, which left him in a coma for two decades.
Why Was He Called the Sleeping Prince?
Due to his long-term coma, the Saudi royal was often referred to as the Sleeping Prince. Despite his condition, his family held on to hope. Occasionally, they reported subtle physical responses like finger or hand movements, which they believed were signs of improvement. His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, frequently shared videos of these small gestures on social media, keeping his son's story alive.
Medical Care and Family's Efforts for Recovery
After the accident, Prince Al-Waleed was flown to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he was placed on a ventilator. His family went to great lengths by inviting international medical experts to assess his condition and attempt recovery. However, despite advanced treatment and constant care, the Sleeping Prince never regained full consciousness.
Announcement of His Passing and Family's Tribute
Prince Khaled bin Talal, the father of the late Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled, announced his son's death on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, "With hearts full of faith in Allah's decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him."
The message reflected the family's emotional journey and their unshaken faith during these past 20 years.
Funeral Arrangements in Saudi Arabia
{يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ، ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً، فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي، وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي}بقلوب مؤمنة بقضاء الله وقدره وببالغ الحزن والأسى ننعى إبننا الغاليالأمير الوليد بن خالد بن طلال بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود رحمه اللهالذي انتقل… pic.twitter.com/QQBbMWGOOG
According to reports from Khaleej Times, the funeral prayers for Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled are set for Sunday, 20 July 2025, and will be held separately for men and women:
Men's prayers will be held after Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Women's prayers will take place after Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
Condolences will be accepted for three days, from 20 July to 22 July. Male mourners can visit Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's palace in the Al-Fakhriyah district, while female mourners are welcome after Maghrib prayer.
The Legacy of the Sleeping Prince
Despite being in a coma for two decades, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled remained a symbol of hope and resilience in Saudi Arabia. His story brought attention to the power of faith, medical science, and the bond between family members in the face of tragedy. His passing marks the end of a deeply emotional chapter for the Saudi royal family.
FAQ:
Q. Who was Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal?
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, also known as the Sleeping Prince, was a Saudi royal and the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. He remained in a coma for 20 years following a car accident in 2005.
Q. Why was he called the Sleeping Prince?
He was called the Sleeping Prince because he spent two decades in a coma after a serious car accident in London. His family reported slight physical movements over the years, which gave them hope that he might recover.
Q. How did Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled fall into a coma?
In 2005, Prince Al-Waleed was met with a serious car accident while training as a military cadet in London. He suffered a major brain injury and internal bleeding, which left him unresponsive and in a coma for 20 years.
Q. When did Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled die and how old was he?
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled passed away on Saturday, 19 July 2025, at the age of 36. He had spent the last 20 years on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Q. When and where were Prince Al-Waleed's funeral prayers held?
The funeral prayers for Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled took place on Sunday, 20 July 2025.
For men: After Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh
For women: After Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital
Condolences were accepted from 20 to 22 July.
To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
New NCERT Class 8 vocational book teaches carpentry, hydroponics, home automation
The NCERT has introduced a new Class 8 vocational textbook titled Kaushal Bodh to make learning more hands-on and rooted in real-life skills. This new release is part of the push under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 to bring practical education into idea is to give students a break from rote learning and let them explore real-world activities like carpentry, animal care, home automation, and hydroponics. These skills are not just fun to learn but also help students understand concepts to NCERT's post on X (formerly Twitter), Kaushal Bodh aims to blend traditional skills with innovation and prepare students with practical knowledge early NEW IN THE CLASS 8 NCERT TEXTBOOK LINEUP? The vocational book isn't the only new addition this year. NCERT has also released several other textbooks for Class 8, including:Social Science Book: Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Part 1, focusing on medieval Indian textbook: Poorvi, packed with stories highlighting Indian values and inspiring textbook: Designed to build logic and creativity in these textbooks have been created to make learning more engaging and encourage students to be curious, compassionate, and new books aim to match the goals of NEP 2020 by moving away from memory-based learning and giving students more room to explore and apply what they learn.- Ends
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Europe-bound migrant boat capsizes off the Libyan coast, leaving at least 15 people dead
CAIRO: A migrant boat capsized early Friday off the coast of Libya, leaving at least 15 Egyptians dead, according to Libyan officials. The boat was bound for Europe and was carrying dozens when it capsized around 2 a.m. near the eastern Libyan town of Tobruk, according to Marwan al-Shaeri, the media spokesperson of general administration of the coast guard in Tobruk. Al-Shaeri confirmed that all those known to have died were Egyptian nationals. The crews were able to rescue two Sudanese crewmembers, but a third is still missing. He told The Associated Press that the sea is not suitable for any sailing activity but couldn't say why the boat capsized. It was unclear how many people were still missing. Local aid group Abreen, which tracks migrant activity, said early Friday afternoon on Facebook that 10 people survived the incident. Libya is a dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. Drowning incidents near the country's coast have been common. In December, at least 61 migrants, including women and children, drowned off the town of Zuwara on Libya's western coast. According to the missing migrants project run by the International Organization for Migration, at least 434 migrants have been reported dead and 611 missing off Libya in the past eight months. More than 14,100 migrants were intercepted and returned to the chaos-stricken country. Libya was plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
On significant events on July 25
Daily Quiz | Significant events on July 25 Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit YOUR SCORE 0 /5 RETAKE THE QUIZ 1 / 5 | On this day in 2007, a woman was sworn in to this top post in the country. She was the first woman to hold the post. After herm, only one other woman has held the post. Identify the person. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Pratibha patil SHOW ANSWER 2 / 5 | World Embryologist Day is celebrated every year on July 25 to mark the progress in fertility and reproductive medicine. Why is it celebrated on July 25? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : To mark the birth of the world's first test tube baby SHOW ANSWER 3 / 5 | On this day in 1984, this woman astronaut became the first woman to perform this activity in space. Identify the astronaut and the activity. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya and space walk SHOW ANSWER 4 / 5 | Air France flight 4590 crashed on this day in 2000, killing all aboard and four others on the ground. Where did the incident occur? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Paris SHOW ANSWER
