‘Sleeping Prince’ Turns 36 After 19 Years in Coma

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, often referred to as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” has quietly marked his 36th birthday—nearly two decades after a tragic car accident left him in a coma at the age of 17.

In 2005, while attending a military college, the young royal suffered a traumatic brain injury in a road accident. Since then, he has been in a persistent coma, kept alive on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.

Born into the powerful House of Saud, Prince Al-Waleed is the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. His grandfather, Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, was one of King Abdulaziz’s many sons and known for his liberal views and reformist stance. Though not in the direct line to the throne, Prince Al-Waleed is a close relative of the current ruler, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who is his great-uncle.

Throughout the years, the prince’s condition has attracted widespread public interest, particularly due to the unwavering devotion of his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud. Despite multiple medical recommendations to end life support, Prince Khaled has refused, citing faith and hope as the guiding principles behind his decision. “If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now,” Prince Khaled previously stated.

In 2019, a glimmer of hope emerged when reports circulated that Prince Al-Waleed had shown minor responses—such as lifting a finger or turning his head. However, those signs did not lead to significant recovery, and he remains in a non-responsive state.

On April 18, social media lit up with messages of support and prayers as photos surfaced of the prince surrounded by loved ones on his birthday. The images, often shared with hashtags calling for his healing, reflect the emotional connection many Saudis feel toward the story—a deeply personal saga that has become a symbol of hope, perseverance, and parental devotion.

Over the years, the “Sleeping Prince” has quietly become part of the national consciousness in Saudi Arabia. His story is a reminder of how love, faith, and family endure even in the most uncertain and heart-wrenching circumstances.