For nearly two decades, a single hospital room in Riyadh carried the weight of a nation’s hope. Inside, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known to the world as the ‘Sleeping Prince’, lay in a coma following a devastating accident that changed the course of his life and his family’s, forever.
In 2005, the young Saudi royal, just 15 at the time, suffered catastrophic injuries during a high-speed car crash in London. The accident resulted in a severe brain hemorrhage, leaving Prince Al-Waleed in a persistent vegetative state.
He was soon transported back to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he would remain on full life support for the next 20 years.
What makes this story extraordinary is not just the longevity of the coma, but the family’s refusal to let go, despite repeated advice from medical professionals.
Doctors had long recommended removing life support, concluding that the prince had no real chance of recovery. But Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, Al-Waleed’s father, consistently stood firm in his decision to keep his son alive.
Prince Khaled once said, as reported by the Economic Times.
“If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now”
The prince’s mother echoed a similar belief, often stating she could still feel her son’s spirit and presence in the room.
Then in 2019, something happened that reignited hope. Video footage showed the prince slightly moving his fingers and head, a moment that went viral and stirred global emotion.
Roya News noted that these were “signs of limited awareness through small gestures, such as lifting a finger or slightly moving his head.”
However, medical experts were clear that these minor movements did not signal a return to consciousness. Still, for the royal family, they were more than enough.
Throughout his 20-year coma, international medical teams from Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United States, and the UK were consulted, but none could offer a path to recovery. Yet the family’s resolve did not waiver. Faith, hope, and the power of love became the foundation of their commitment.
On July 19, Prince Al-Waleed passed away at the age of 36. His father confirmed the news in a public statement:
“With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away today.”
Tributes poured in from across the globe. The Global Imams Council shared:
“We extend our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the esteemed Royal Family, on the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud.”
While the world mourns the prince’s death, many are also reflecting on the extraordinary choices his family made. Standing against medical odds for 20 years, holding onto their belief that divine intervention could triumph over science.
In the end, it wasn’t recovery that defined Prince Al-Waleed’s legacy, but the unwavering love and spiritual faith of a family who refused to give up.
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