Thailand's royal household announced the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, 47, who had been in a coma for over three years. She collapsed in December 2022 while walking her dogs, with doctors attributing it to severe arrhythmia caused by a mycoplasma infection in her heart.

The princess was the eldest of King Vajiralongkorn's seven children, born on December 7, 1978. A trained lawyer, she earned two postgraduate degrees from Cornell University. She briefly worked at Thailand's UN mission in New York before returning to serve in the Attorney-General's offices.

From 2012 to 2014, she served as Thailand's ambassador to Austria, building ties with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). She advocated penal reform, focusing on vulnerable women in prison; Thailand has one of the highest female inmate populations globally.

In 2021, her father appointed her chief of staff of his personal bodyguard, granting her the rank of general. She was also a fitness enthusiast who participated in long-distance runs.

Her abilities and her father's trust made her a frequent subject of succession speculation. King Vajiralongkorn, 73, has not named an heir. A 1974 constitutional amendment allows a female to ascend the throne. The king has five sons, but four were disowned in 1996. His fifth son, Dipangkorn, is the presumed heir, though questions remain about his capability.

For many Thai royalists, Princess Bajrakitiyabha seemed the most promising figure to succeed her father, either as queen or regent. Her death leaves Thailand's succession question unanswered, with the country's strict lese-majeste law prohibiting public discussion.

Source: www.bbc.com