By Every year, a quiet milestone passes in Saudi Arabia that tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who hears the story. Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, lovingly dubbed the “Sleeping Prince,” just turned 36.
But there were no grand celebrations, no laughter-filled gatherings—just the steady hum of life-sustaining machines at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where Al-Waleed has lain in a coma for nearly 20 years. His story is one of tragedy, royal legacy, and a father’s relentless hope, and it’s impossible not to be moved by it.
Back in 2005, Al-Waleed was a young man with the world ahead of him. Studying at a military college, he was carving out his own path, full of promise and potential. Then, in a split second, a devastating car accident changed everything. A severe head injury plunged him into a coma, and just like that, his vibrant life was put on hold. For 19 years, he’s been cared for around the clock, his body sustained by machines while his family and a nation wait for a miracle.
Al-Waleed’s story isn’t just about a tragic accident—it’s about who he is. He’s no ordinary patient; he’s a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. His grandfather was Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, and his great-uncle is King Salman, the current monarch.
While he’s not in the direct line to the throne, his roots run deep in the House of Saud, tying him to the very heart of the kingdom’s history. That lineage makes his story all the more poignant—a prince, struck down in his prime, now a symbol of both fragility and resilience.
At the center of this saga is Al-Waleed’s father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud. If you want to know what love and determination look like, it’s this man. For nearly two decades, he’s stood by his son’s side, refusing to let go of hope.
Every birthday, every year that passes, is a testament to his belief that one day, his son might open his eyes. It’s the kind of devotion that makes you stop and think about the power of family, the kind that endures when everything else fades.
The nickname “Sleeping Prince” feels like something out of a fairytale, but it’s bittersweet. It captures the stillness of Al-Waleed’s life, frozen in time since that fateful day in 2005. Yet it also carries a spark of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there’s a chance for awakening.
Across Saudi Arabia, his story resonates—not just because of his royal blood, but because it’s so human. It’s a reminder that life can change in an instant, and that love can hold strong through it all.
As Al-Waleed’s 36th birthday passes, I can’t help but wonder who he might have been. A leader? A dreamer? A son making his father proud? We’ll never know what could have been, but what we do know is this: his story isn’t over.
As long as his family keeps vigil, as long as the machines hum and the prayers continue, the Sleeping Prince remains a quiet beacon of hope in a world that could use a little more of it.
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