Thailand mourns the loss of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, who passed away at 47, as announced by the royal palace. Known affectionately as Princess Pa, she was the eldest child of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The princess was hospitalized in December 2022 after experiencing a heart-related incident.
Tragically, Princess Pa succumbed on the evening of Thursday, June 11, following complications from an intra-abdominal infection, colitis, low blood pressure, arrhythmias, and blood clotting disorders. Born on December 7, 1978, she dedicated her life to advocating for female prisoners and pursued a successful diplomatic career.
A distinguished scholar, Princess Pa earned a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Law from Cornell University. She served as an attorney at the Thai Office of the Attorney-General from 2006 to 2011 before taking on the role of Thailand’s ambassador to Austria, Slovenia, and Slovakia from 2012 to 2014.
Returning to Thailand, she resumed her work at the attorney-general’s office in Bangkok and founded a charity supporting the rights of incarcerated women, especially those who were pregnant while in prison. In 2017, she was appointed the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice’s goodwill ambassador for the rule of law in Southeast Asia.
In 2021, Princess Pa joined the army and was honored with the rank of general, serving as the chief of staff in the Royal Security Command. As one of the king’s three eligible children for succession under the constitution, her passing has significant implications for the royal lineage.
The palace will conduct royal funeral rites to honor her memory, and a period of national mourning is expected to be declared by the government in remembrance of her contributions and legacy.
