The “Sleeping Prince” Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. ARCHIVE

Saudi Arabia’s official mourning for Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled Al Saud, widely known as the “Sleeping Prince,” will continue until Tuesday (July 22), following his death after spending 20 years in a coma. Prince Khaled bin Talal, father of the late royal, confirmed the schedule of mourning gatherings after announcing his son’s death in an emotional post on social media on Sunday (July 20). “With hearts that believe in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son… May Allah have mercy on him,” Prince Khaled wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Funeral prayers were held on Sunday, with three days of mourning observed across the kingdom, reflecting the public’s deep emotional connection with the prince who, despite his long silence, became a national symbol of resilience, faith, and unwavering parental love. Al Waleed was just 15 years old when he suffered a catastrophic brain injury in a high-speed car crash in London in 2005, while studying at a military college. The accident left him in a permanent coma caused by a brain haemorrhage and internal bleeding. For the next two decades, Prince Al Waleed remained on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. Despite grim medical predictions, his father never gave up hope. Inside the hospital, the prince’s room was filled with prayers and quiet moments of faith. Over the years, his family released periodic updates, including a 2019 video that appeared to show the prince moving his head slightly—fueling a brief wave of national hope. Earlier this year, rumours falsely claimed that the prince had regained consciousness. These were quickly refuted by the family, who continued to pray for recovery while acknowledging medical challenges. Just months ago, doctors noted glandular swelling, prompting further tests, but no significant improvement followed. Through it all, his father remained a constant presence at his bedside. Princess Rima bint Talal, the prince’s aunt, once shared: “Twenty-one years and you are always present in our hearts and in the prayers of your loved ones.” The passing of Prince Al Waleed has ignited an outpouring of grief and remembrance across Saudi Arabia and beyond, with thousands using the hashtag #SleepingPrince to share condolences and memories of a life lived in stillness, but not forgotten. ICA/Expat Media
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