Updated: Undead princess report I

Update: Thanks to a reader for noting date errors.

The long unreported “health” of Princess Bajrakitiyabha has long been unreported until Friday, quite suddenly, the palace suddenly issued a report.

Back on 14 December 2022 2021, 44 year-old Princess Bajrakitiyabha collapsed and was reported (by outlets outside Thailand) to have died.

Domestic reporting on this event was, as always on royal matters, restricted by Article 112.

At the time of her collapse, the BBC reported:

The Thai King’s eldest daughter collapsed from a heart condition on Wednesday evening, Thailand’s royal palace says.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Vajiralongkorn, collapsed while training her dogs north-east of Bangkok, the palace said.

The BBC added, alluding to her death:

Medical bulletins from the royal palace in Thailand are typically vague and cryptic, and from the single statement issued about Princess Bajrakitiyabha, it is difficult to gauge how serious her condition is….

The statement says nothing about her state of health now. Some reports have suggested it is a lot more serious than stated.

Those reports had it that the princess was brain dead an being kept “alive” by machines. But even palace health reports went silent.

The past four almost 3 years have seen the daily royal news occasionally reporting on Bajrakitiyabha almost as if she were still an active member of the royal family.

Reuters reported the latest official “health” bulletin:

Bajrakitiyabha … developed a severe bloodstream infection and remains under medical care…”. The palace said medication and equipment were being used to support her lung and kidney function…. Last week, a medical team administered antibiotics after detecting a severe infection in her bloodstream. Blood pressure medication was also administered, the palace said.

Prachatai, maintaining the ruse that the Bajrakitiyabha is alive, observes: “The Princess’ illness has put royal succession under the spotlight. Although the King has not formally named an heir, she is [PPT: was] seen as the most viable candidate due to her family background and public standing.”

Given rumors that Bajrakitiyabha’s mother and grandmother are both also deceased but still not reported as such, the royal family again seems to be behaving oddly. The only somewhat related case we can recall was the Saudi “sleeping prince.”