‘I Am Scared’ to ‘Fighting Again’: Thai Princess Recalls Sister’s Death and Recovery
‘I Am Scared’ to ‘Fighting Again’: Thai Princess Recalls Sister’s Death and Recovery
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 25, 2026 — Thailand’s Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of her elder sister, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, recalling how she learned of the tragedy while competing in an equestrian event in Italy and continued to compete on the day her sister died.
The 39-year-old princess, who is representing Thailand in equestrian competition at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, discussed her grief in a rare interview reported by Royal World Thailand and international media.
Princess Sirivannavari said she was competing in Italy when she received news that her sister, affectionately known as “Bha,” had died. She said she was initially unsure whether to return to Thailand immediately because travel arrangements were uncertain.
Her sporting association advised her to continue competing, despite having been scheduled for two events.
“I was competing on the very day my sister passed away,” she said, describing her performance as poor as she struggled emotionally and her horse also encountered difficulties.
After the event, she said she broke down and cried.
“Everything was going poorly, and I felt helpless after,” she recalled. She said she believed her family wanted her to remain at the competition and that her sister might also have wanted her to continue.
She said she eventually took time to recover and returned to competition with renewed determination.
“Within about two weeks, I was back to being the athlete I used to be—fighting with everything I’ve got, just like before,” she said.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha died in June
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, died on June 11, 2026, at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok at the age of 47.
According to the Bureau of the Royal Household, she had been receiving medical treatment at the hospital since December 15, 2022, after losing consciousness because of a cardiac condition. Her condition deteriorated in 2026 following an abdominal infection associated with inflammation of the large intestine, accompanied by low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia and abnormal blood clotting.
The King subsequently ordered royal funeral rites with the highest honours.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha had served as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria and held a role with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime focused on the rule of law in Southeast Asia.
Sirivannavari returns to competition
Princess Sirivannavari, the daughter of King Vajiralongkorn and his former consort Yuvadhida Polpraserth, is a prominent member of Thailand’s royal family as well as an equestrian and fashion designer.
At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, she is competing for Thailand in equestrian sport while also taking part in official activities surrounding the Games. A recent interview about her ceremonial collection for the Thai delegation described her role as both a national equestrian athlete and creative director of the SIRIVANNAVARI fashion brand.
Her latest comments provide a rare personal account of the period surrounding her sister’s death, describing the conflict between mourning a close family member and continuing her responsibilities as an athlete.
She said she has since recovered and returned to competition with the same determination she had before her sister’s death.
