The young royal, then a student at a military college in the British capital, was critically injured in the crash, sustaining severe brain haemorrhaging. He never regained full consciousness.
After initial treatment in the UK, he was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained under continuous medical care.
Despite recommendations from medical professionals in 2015 to withdraw life support, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, steadfastly refused, maintaining hope that his son would one day recover.
"Life and death are in God's hands," the elder prince often remarked during the long years of uncertainty.
A brief flicker of hope emerged in 2020 when a video circulated on social media showed Prince Al-Waleed moving his fingers and lifting his hand in response to a voice. The moment gave renewed strength to those who had followed his story closely, though no significant recovery followed.
Prince Al-Waleed's death was announced on social media by his father, prompting a wave of condolences across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The hashtag #TheSleepingPrince quickly trended on X, as thousands paid tribute to his life and the steadfast devotion of his family.
Born on April 18, 1990, Prince Al-Waleed was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal and the nephew of billionaire businessman Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. He was also a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.
Funeral prayers for the prince are scheduled for Sunday. The men's prayer was to be held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh following the Asr prayer, while the women's service was planned after Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/saudi-royal-sleeping-prince-dies-after-20-years-in-coma
