Who is Sleeping Prince’s father? All about Saudi Royal who kept his son alive for two decades despite brain dead diagnosis

Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, the father of the late Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal, better known as “the sleeping prince,” is a member of the Saudi Royal family.

His relentless insistence on keeping his son on life support for nearly 20 years has caught the attention of people around the world, particularly after the recent death of the prince, at 36. The prince, who was born on April 18, 1990, was involved in a horrific car crash in London in 2005 while he was studying at military college.

The crash resulted in severe brain trauma and left him in a coma at age 15. Despite the doctor's advice to remove life support, his father resisted and insisted on the hope that his son would recover.

Prince Khaled, a member of the Saudi royal family, refused to take his son off life support, due to his religious and personal beliefs. He would often mention his determination to not give up.

"If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now," he said in a statement according to Yahoo News.

Saudi Arabia's Sleeping Prince Dies After 20 Years in Coma



After 20 years in a comatose state, the Sleeping Prince, Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, has passed away.



Prince Alwaleed entered a coma in 2005 following a traffic accident, earning… pic.twitter.com/N4FSPwLqTS

— Hurriyat Radio English (@HurriyatEN) July 20, 2025

Prince Khaled is a nephew of Saudi Arabia’s late King Abdullah and the brother of the billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. According to NDTV World, although not in the line of succession, Khaled wields influence within the royal family and had previously been associated with charitable work, and a strictly observant Islamic lifestyle.

The family’s choice to keep Prince Alwaleed alive for two decades received intense public scrutiny in Saudi Arabia and around the world.

A look into Sleeping Prince’s legacy and hospitalization

Prince Khaled had taken personal responsibility for his son’s care for the past two decades, with physicians at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh providing round-the-clock treatment.

Any little indication of movement, for instance the report of a finger twitch in 2019, was sufficient for Prince Khaled to hold on to the thought that his son could wake up some day. His wife, Princess Reema bint Talal, also shared his belief that their son is still here with them, referring to his spirit as still being alive (Yahoo News).

Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal al Saud ("Sleeping Prince") has died after 20 years in a coma. In 2005, when he was 16, he was in a serious car accident in London and suffered a severe head injury.https://t.co/YWmmJKloJqhttps://t.co/7I4p7B0eJmhttps://t.co/7EGg7G66ec pic.twitter.com/avcmycy4To

— 1C Developer (@developer_1c) July 19, 2025

"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," wrote on X.

During his coma, Prince Alwaleed became known worldwide as the Sleeping Prince, and his story has circulated often on social media. After his passing, the hashtag #SleepingPrince is now trending on social media as thousands shared their condolences for the youngster's family.

Those offering their condolences gathered at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh for funeral prayers for the prince.