The body of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati was transferred from Chulalongkorn Hospital to the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Saturday [3].

The movement of the royal remains marks the beginning of national mourning rites for the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Her death follows a prolonged period of medical uncertainty that had gripped the Thai monarchy.

The palace said the princess died on Friday, June 12, 2024 [3]. The transfer occurred the following day, June 13, 2024 [3], as the royal family began preparations for the official funeral ceremonies.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha died at age 47 [1]. She had been hospitalized for more than three years [1], having suffered a collapse that left her in a coma [5]. While some reports described the event as a sudden illness, other accounts specified a heart condition that led to her unconscious state starting in 2022 [5].

Thailand has entered a period of national grief to honor the late princess. The government said there is an official mourning period of 15 days [4].

The princess had been a prominent figure in Thai public life before her illness. Her long-term hospitalization remained a subject of intense public interest and royal discretion until the formal announcement of her death this week.

Supporters and citizens have gathered in Bangkok to pay their respects. The transfer to the Grand Palace allows for the traditional rites associated with high-ranking members of the Chakri dynasty to proceed in the historic heart of the capital.

“Princess Bajrakitiyabha died at age 47”

The death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha concludes a three-year period of medical ambiguity surrounding the royal family's eldest child. Because the Thai monarchy is central to national identity and stability, the 15-day mourning period serves as a structured transition for the public to process the loss of a popular royal figure who had been absent from public view since 2022.