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By Getuma Okemwa, April 24, 2025
As the world spins forward into an age of AI, space exploration, and political flux, one story in Saudi Arabia remains uniquely suspended in time—a story of tragedy, resilience, and unwavering hope. On April 18, 2025, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, lovingly dubbed the “Sleeping Prince,” marked his 36th birthday. But unlike most celebrations, his was quiet, solemn, and steeped in silence. For the past 20 years, the prince has been in a coma—locked in a twilight state since a devastating car crash in 2005.
A Life Changed in an Instant
The tragedy unfolded in London while the young prince, then just 18, was pursuing his military education. A horrific accident left him with a severe traumatic brain injury that plunged him into a coma—a state from which he has never fully emerged.
Today, Prince Al-Waleed is cared for at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remains surrounded by a team of doctors, nurses, and perhaps most importantly, unwavering family members who have refused to give up hope.
While much has changed in the world since 2005—kings and presidents have come and gone, revolutions have reshaped the Middle East, and global pandemics have tested humanity—one thing has remained constant: the loving vigil of the prince’s family.
A Father’s Unyielding Faith
Leading that vigil is his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, a man whose devotion to his son has become a symbol of steadfast faith. He has repeatedly rejected all calls to discontinue life support, insisting that the decision over his son’s fate rests with God.
“If God wanted to take his soul, He would have done so in the accident,” the prince once said in a public statement. “But we believe in miracles, and we will continue to wait.”
This philosophy has shaped the entire family’s approach to Prince Al-Waleed’s care—a mix of advanced medical intervention, constant prayer, and profound emotional endurance.
A Moment That Stirred the Nation
In 2019, after 14 years of silence, a faint glimmer of hope electrified the nation. A video surfaced showing Prince Al-Waleed moving his head slightly, an involuntary action that many interpreted as a potential sign of consciousness. The footage, posted by his aunt Princess Rima bint Talal, was shared widely across social media and news outlets, igniting public optimism.
Though medical experts cautioned against reading too much into the motion, calling it a reflexive response rather than a sign of recovery, the moment resonated deeply with Saudis and people across the Arab world. For a country known for its reverence of royal figures, this silent prince had become a quiet symbol of hope.
The Power of Public Emotion
Each year, the prince’s birthday brings a renewed wave of emotion. Social media floods with prayers and well-wishes. Hashtags like #SleepingPrince and #AlWaleedBinKhaled trend across platforms. Some post photos of candles and roses, others pen heartfelt messages: “We are still praying. May God return him to us.”
In 2024, Princess Rima shared a new photo of Prince Al-Waleed, eyes closed, lying peacefully in his hospital bed. The image carried no updates—no headline news of improvement—but it didn’t need any. The message was clear: he is still here. And we are still waiting.
A Family’s Love Beyond Measure
Few stories test the limits of love like that of Prince Al-Waleed’s. For two decades, his family has chosen presence over practicality, care over convenience. His father visits frequently, speaks to him, and ensures that the prince receives only the best care available. No expense has been spared. No emotion left unexpressed.
The prince’s room is not merely a hospital chamber—it is a sanctum of belief. Qur’anic verses are recited daily. Nurses tend to him with reverence. His room has become a sacred space, a chamber where love, science, and faith collide in quiet harmony.
A Story Larger Than One Man
While Prince Al-Waleed’s condition has remained medically stable with no marked improvement, his impact has been anything but static. His story has sparked conversations about coma care, end-of-life ethics, and the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.
In many ways, the “Sleeping Prince” has become more than a royal figure—he is a living symbol of endurance, of the refusal to give up even when the odds stretch thin.
He has taught many about the complexity of hope: that it is not always a roaring fire, but sometimes a single candle, flickering yet unwavering in the dark.
The Road Ahead
As Prince Al-Waleed enters his 37th year, no one can predict what lies ahead. Medical science offers limited optimism for long-term coma patients after such a prolonged duration, but miracles—rare as they are—do happen.
For his family, especially his father, it is not about probability, but possibility. They cling to every blink, every breath, every reflex as a potential whisper from the other side of silence.
In a world obsessed with speed, efficiency, and closure, Prince Al-Waleed’s story is a powerful reminder of something else—enduring love that doesn’t demand an outcome, only the strength to keep believing.
And so, the prince sleeps on—wrapped in the prayers of a nation and the unwavering love of a family that refuses to let go.
Editor’s Note: If you’d like to send a message of support or prayer for Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled, the family encourages respectful public sharing under the hashtag #SleepingPrince.