Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ Dies
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed Al Saud, known as the “Sleeping Prince,” died after spending two decades in a coma following a 2005 car crash.
Twitter
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, dubbed the “Sleeping Prince,” was a Saudi royal whose life took a heartbreaking turn after a devastating car accident in 2005. At just 15, while studying at a military college in London, he suffered severe brain injuries and internal bleeding in a crash that left him in a coma for two decades. His story, marked by his family’s unwavering hope and a recent wave of misinformation, captured global attention until his death at age 36.
The Accident and Coma
Born in April 1989, Prince Al-Waleed, the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud and nephew of billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, was a great-grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdulaziz. In 2005, while pursuing his studies, he was involved in a horrific traffic accident in London. The crash caused a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding, plunging him into a vegetative state. He was moved to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on a ventilator and feeding tube for 20 years. Despite minimal brain activity, his family, particularly his father, rejected medical advice in 2015 to end life support, with Prince Khaled famously saying, “If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now.”
Over the years, Al-Waleed became a symbol of endurance in the Arab world, earning the “Sleeping Prince” moniker. His hospital room, often adorned with a Saudi flag, was a pilgrimage site for well-wishers offering prayers. In 2019 and 2020, videos surfaced showing slight movements, like lifting a finger or turning his head, sparking fleeting hope, though doctors confirmed these were involuntary reflexes, not signs of recovery.
The Viral Misinformation
Last month, a video went viral on platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook, falsely claiming Al-Waleed had woken up after 20 years. The clip, viewed millions of times, showed a man in a hospital bed opening his eyes and greeting family, with captions like, “Sleeping Prince of Saudi who had accident 20 years ago has finally regained his life.” The emotional footage, paired with a photo of Al-Waleed, fueled global buzz. But fact-checks by outlets like NDTV, Times of India, and AFP revealed the man was Yazeed Mohamed Al-Rajhi, a Saudi billionaire and rally driver recovering from spinal fractures sustained in a Baja Jordan rally crash in April 2025. The mix-up stemmed from misattributed footage, with no evidence Al-Waleed had regained consciousness.
X posts amplified the confusion, with some users proclaiming the prince’s awakening, only for others to point out discrepancies, such as the tracheostomy in the video not matching Al-Waleed’s condition.
### His Death and Legacy
Yesterday (Saturday), Prince Khaled announced his son’s passing on X, writing, “With hearts full of faith in Allah’s decree, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who passed away to Allah’s mercy today.” Funeral prayers were held the next day at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. The news, reported by The National, Gulf News, and others, triggered an outpouring of condolences, with the hashtag #SleepingPrince trending as thousands mourned.
Al-Waleed’s story resonated deeply, not just for its tragedy but for his family’s devotion. His father’s refusal to give up, despite medical pessimism, and his mother Princess Reema’s belief in feeling his “spirit” touched many. The prince’s plight also sparked ethical debates, with some on X, like @creepydotorg, questioning the humanity of keeping someone in a vegetative state for decades.
The Family Context
Al-Waleed’s father, Prince Khaled, a conservative royal, made headlines in 2011 for offering a $900,000 bounty for capturing Israeli soldiers, a response to Israeli bounties on Palestinian prisoners. He was briefly arrested in 2017 and 2018 for opposing Saudi reforms, including the relaxation of religious police powers. Al-Waleed’s uncle, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, is a global business tycoon, while his cousin, Khaled bin Alwaleed, is a vegan entrepreneur. The family’s prominence amplified the public’s fascination with Al-Waleed’s condition.
The “Sleeping Prince” saga isn’t just a royal tragedy, it’s a case study in hope, grief, and the power of misinformation. While Al-Waleed’s family clung to faith, social media spun false narratives, reminding us to double-check viral claims. His death closed a 20-year chapter, but his story lingers as a poignant reminder of life’s fragility and the internet’s ability to distort it.