BANGKOK — 12 June 2026, Grief and disbelief spread among royal supporters gathered outside King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital on Thursday after the Bureau of the Royal Household announced the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, ending more than three years of hope that Thailand’s eldest princess would recover from a severe illness.
Among those paying their respects was Nammon, an 8-year-old boy who travelled to the hospital with his grandmother to bid farewell to the Princess.
The young admirer said he first learned about Princess Bajrakitiyabha through stories told by his grandmother and television broadcasts featuring her work.
He recalled becoming interested in the Princess after watching a television report about a project she carried out in collaboration with PTT, which prompted him to learn more about her life and public service.
“I wanted to see Her Royal Highness in person at least once”
Nammon said, adding that he had been determined to come to the hospital to pay his respects and express his condolences.
For many supporters gathered outside the hospital, the announcement came as a devastating shock.
Chorn, 62, originally from Chumphon and now living in Bangkok’s Min Buri district, said she arrived at the hospital at 17:00 on Wednesday after learning that the Princess’s condition had deteriorated.
She said she had travelled there hoping to hear good news and had always believed a miracle would happen.
However, after hearing the official announcement, she struggled to come to terms with the news.
“The hope and miracle I had been waiting for all this time seemed to disappear before my eyes”
Chorn said that whenever the Bureau of the Royal Household issued updates on the Princess’s condition over the past three years, she remained hopeful that the Princess would eventually recover.
She had regularly attended events to welcome Princess Bha. Whenever she learned that the Princess would be visiting an area, she would try to travel there and wait to greet her whenever possible.
She added that she planned to remain at the hospital while awaiting further announcements regarding arrangements following the Princess’s passing.
Jeab, 53, who travelled from Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian district, said she arrived at the hospital at 22:00 on Wednesday and stayed through the night monitoring developments.
She described Princess Bajrakitiyabha as a dedicated public servant whose work had earned the admiration of many Thais.
“People like us are far more comfortable because Her Royal Highness devoted herself and made sacrifices for the people throughout her life”
Among the Princess’s contributions, she said she particularly admired the Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Volunteers Foundation, noting that the Princess often travelled personally to disaster-hit and disadvantaged communities to provide assistance.
She also praised the Princess’s legal career and anti-drug efforts, describing her as a capable prosecutor who used her position to benefit society.
Despite the announcement of the Princess’s death, Aunt Jeab said she intended to remain at the hospital until further details were released.
“Even though only a handful of people are here now, we are willing to stay,” she said.
Reflecting on a past occasion when she had the opportunity to greet the Princess during a royal engagement, Aunt Jeab said what impressed her most was the Princess’s humility.
“Whenever she met elders, she always showed respect. She never overlooked ordinary people,” she said. “It never felt like a relationship between royalty and subjects, but rather like one between fellow citizens.”