Despite the world moving towards modernity and equality in most countries, people are still fascinated by the extraordinary lives of royals. Be it the UK royals or the Saudi Arabia royal family, they continue to gain people's attention even today. Their lives often seem full of luxury and privilege, yet behind the gilded walls of their palaces, some royal stories are written in unimaginable sorrow. And one of the most heartbreaking among them is that of Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, now tenderly known as the 'Sleeping Prince.'
Meet Saudi Arabia’s 'Sleeping Prince'
Prince Al-Waleed marked his 36th birthday on April 18, 2025 — but he remains unaware of the years passing by and is popularly known as the 'Sleeping Prince'. Why? For the past 20 years, he has been trapped in a coma, a silent world he entered after a devastating road accident in 2005 while he was pursuing his dreams at a military college.
Today, he lies and is taken care in the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he is tethered to life through machines. According to Roya News, Prince Al-Waleed is on a ventilator for the past 20 years, and is fed through a feeding tube. "The prince remains on life support, relying on mechanical ventilation and a feeding tube. The last documented movements occurred in 2019, when he reportedly showed signs of limited awareness through small gestures, such as lifting a finger or slightly moving his head—though these moments did not indicate a return to full consciousness," as per Roya News.
While this offered brief glimmers of hope to his family, but full consciousness remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
When doctors once advised ending life support, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud didn't agree and instead decided to fight for his beloved son’s life. "If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now," his father had said.
Princess Reema, who is Prince Al-Waleed's mother, has also spoken about feeling her son's spirit present with them, as per reports.
How is Prince Al-Waleed related to the King of Saudi Arabia?
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal is part of the Saudi royal family, but he is not a direct son or brother of the current King.
Here’s how he is related:- Prince Al-Waleed’s grandfather, Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, was one of the many sons of King Abdulaziz Al Saud (the founder and first King of Saudi Arabia).
- That means Prince Al-Waleed is a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz.
- The current King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is also a son of King Abdulaziz — making him the great-uncle of Prince Al-Waleed.
Yet no title, no fortune, could shield his family from the anguish of watching their beloved prince remain suspended between life and death, year after year, clinging to the faintest threads of hope.
The royal family of Saudi Arabia
The House of Saud (Āl Suʿūd) is the royal family currently ruling Saudi Arabia. Their family history is linked entwined with the Wahhābī religious establishment. The current King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is in power since 2015. Mohammed bin Salman, son of King Salman, is the current Crown Prince.
In the Saudi Arabia royal family, the line of succession is not strictly hereditary-- but the King must be a son or grandson of the founder of Saudi Arabia, Ibn Saud, as per reports. The king is both the head of state and head of government, and is considered the head of the royal family. And so, King Salman's son-- Mohammed bin Salman is the current Crown Prince and a key figure in the Saudi kingdom.
Some other prominent royal families in the world include: the UK royals, the royal family of Japan, the royal family of Thailand, among others.
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