The eldest daughter of King Rama X of Thailand has died at the age of 47, the palace press office has announced.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyawati, known as Princess Pa, lost consciousness in December 2022 whilst visiting one of the country’s national parks. She was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Bangkok, where she remained until her death. The King’s eldest daughter never regained consciousness.
Princess Pa was born on 7 December 1978. After studying at Cornell University in the US, where she obtained a Master’s degree and a Doctor of Law, the princess worked as a prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand. From 2012 to 2014, she served as ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia, before returning to the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand.
In 2017, the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice appointed the princess as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Rule of Law in South-East Asia.
The King’s eldest daughter has been actively involved in defending the rights of female prisoners.
In 2021, Princess Pa was promoted to the rank of general and appointed to the Royal Security Command – a body independent of the Thai Ministry of Defence responsible for the security of the royal family.
Following the princess’s death, Reuters reports, a period of national mourning will be declared in Thailand.
Princess Pa was one of three children of Rama X who were eligible to claim the throne. The heir to the throne is Dipangkorn Rasmitchot, Rama X’s son from his third marriage.