Thailand Prepares Royal Mourning Period After Death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha

Thailand’s palace announced Friday morning that Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at age 47. She had been in a coma since December 2022, after collapsing during a dog-training session, and her condition had been followed closely by the Thai public.

According to the palace, her death followed a deterioration in her medical condition that included an intra-abdominal infection, colitis, low blood pressure, arrhythmia and blood-clotting problems. Her passing ends more than three years of uncertainty, during which rumors and theories circulated without official confirmation.

Authorities in Thailand are now expected to declare a state mourning period, as has been done in previous royal deaths. That could include flags flown at half-staff, official memorial ceremonies, and restrictions on entertainment events and public celebrations. In past mourning periods, performances, parties and other public festivities in major cities were canceled or scaled back, while tourist sites, hotels and transportation mostly continued operating normally.

No new official guidance has yet been issued for tourists or the tourism industry, but officials are expected to clarify in the coming days how long the mourning period will last and what measures will apply nationwide. Local tourism operators expect any restrictions to focus mainly on festive and entertainment activities, with little impact on arrivals or routine tourism operations. Bajrakitiyabha was regarded as one of the most prominent members of the Thai royal family, holding several public and legal roles and seen as an influential figure in the next generation of the monarchy.