Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, widely known as the “Sleeping Prince,” has died at the age of 36, nearly two decades after falling into a coma following a tragic car accident in London.

The prince, who was only 15 when the accident occurred in 2005, was studying at a military academy in the UK when the crash left him with critical brain trauma and internal bleeding. He underwent urgent surgery during which he reportedly suffered a brain hemorrhage, and from that point on, he remained in a non-responsive coma until his death.

Sleeping Prince on Life Support for 20 Years

Despite expert intervention from doctors in the United States and Spain, his condition did not improve. He was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support for almost 20 years, receiving 24/7 medical care.

In a statement confirming the loss, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, expressed deep sorrow while submitting to God’s will, “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, who passed away to Allah’s mercy today.”

The news of his passing has drawn condolences from across the Islamic world. The Global Imams Council also issued a statement of sympathy, “The Global Imams Council extends its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to… His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the esteemed Royal Family, on the passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, who passed away after a long struggle that lasted nearly twenty years following a tragic accident.”

Sleeping Prince Belonged to Influential Saudi Royal Family

Born in April 1990, Prince Alwaleed was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal and the nephew of billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. He was also the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and was closely related to King Salman.

Over the years, brief glimpses of movement—such as the raising of a finger—gave fleeting moments of hope to his family and supporters, but he never regained full consciousness. Videos of these moments often circulated online, drawing both sympathy and prayers from the public.

Prince Khaled remained firmly opposed to withdrawing life support, expressing a deep belief that his son’s fate was in God’s hands.
“If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now,” he said in a previous interview. Throughout the years, particularly during religious holidays, he would visit his son and share emotional messages on social media.

Funeral Prayers Set for Sunday in Riyadh

Funeral prayers for Prince Alwaleed will be held on Sunday, July 20, after the Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. A separate prayer for women will be conducted at King Faisal Specialist Hospital after Dhuhr prayer.

The royal family will receive condolences from July 20 to 22. Men may pay their respects at Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Palace in the Al-Fakhriyah district, while women are invited to do so after Maghrib prayer at the same location.

The prince’s passing closes a chapter marked by tragedy, unwavering familial devotion, and a symbol of resilience that captured the nation’s compassion for nearly two decades.