Thai Princess dies

The eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and a lawyer, Bajrakitiyabha, 47, had been in coma for three years.

Bangkok: Thailand’s Prin­ce­ss Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and a prominent legal advocate, has died at 47, the Royal Household Bureau said. She passed Thu­r­sday evening in a Bangkok hospital, where she had been cared for since falling unconscious three years ago from a mycoplasma infection.

A lawyer with a doctorate from Cornell University, Bajrakitiyabha worked as a public prosecutor and diplomat, serving as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria (2012–2014). She was renowned for justice reform, especially her Kamlangjai (“Inspire”) project, aiding rehab of incarcerated women. Her efforts contrib­u­t­ed to the UN General Assem­bly adopting the “Bangkok Rules” on female prisoners.

Bajrakitiyabha promoted women’s rights, crime prevention, and prison reform as a UN goodwill ambassador. Born December 7, 1978, she is survived by her parents and siblings. Her public service had sparked speculation about a future leadership role in Thailand’s monarchy. –AP