Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, famously known as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” turned 36 on April 18, 2025, marking nearly two decades since he slipped into a coma following a tragic car accident in the United Kingdom.
The accident occurred in 2005 while the prince was studying at a military college. Since then, he has remained unconscious, sustained by life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. The son of billionaire Prince Khaled bin Talal, Al-Waleed has become a symbol of unwavering familial hope in the face of medical adversity.
In 2015, a panel of doctors recommended withdrawing life support, citing a lack of progress. However, Prince Khaled refused. “If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now,” he told media outlets at the time. His defiant hope has captured both national and international attention over the years.
In 2019, the royal family announced minor signs of responsiveness — slight head movements and a raised finger — stirring a brief wave of optimism. Since then, however, there has been no significant progress reported.
As the prince’s birthday passed this year, social media was awash with messages of support and prayer. “Hopefully, he wakes up soon. God, almighty bless him,” one user posted on X, a sentiment echoed across the platform.
Prince Al-Waleed is the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and the current King Salman is his great-uncle. This lineage has drawn even more public interest to his condition, with citizens and royal watchers alike following his story for nearly two decades.
While his body remains still, the tale of the Sleeping Prince continues to move hearts—an enduring symbol of hope, faith and a family’s unyielding love.
By Linah Towett
