The "Sleeping Prince" of Saudi Arabia has passed away at the age of 36 after a tragic incident left him in a coma for the last 20 years.

Born on April 18, 1990, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al-Saud was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal and the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.

As a teenager, he was preparing for a life of public service, studying to become a military officer, per the Daily Mail.

Prince Al-Waleed's life was irrevocably altered in 2005 when he was just 15 years old. While studying at a military college in London, he was involved in a catastrophic car crash that resulted in a brain hemorrhage and severe internal injuries, per the New York Post.

Despite the best efforts of medical teams, the prince slipped into a coma and would never regain full consciousness.

He was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support for the next 20 years.

Despite calls over the years to withdraw life-sustaining treatment, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, stood firm in his refusal, never letting go of the hope that his son might one day awaken.

That hope wasn’t entirely unfounded. In 2015, Prince Khaled was reportedly asked to consider ending life support, but declined.

Then, in 2020, a moment that seemed like a breakthrough occurred.

A now-viral video showed Prince Al-Waleed responding to a visitor by lifting his fingers and even briefly raising his hand. The interaction, though fleeting, reignited hope for a miracle recovery.

“Hi, Didi hello, hello let me see, hi,” the woman said, as the prince visibly moved his hand in response. She gently encouraged him, saying: “One more, one more, higher, higher,” and he complied, offering a rare glimmer of progress.

But despite occasional signs of response, the prince remained in a critical condition.

Throughout the years, Prince Khaled remained a constant figure at his son’s bedside.

Heartbreaking photos captured moments of fatherly love - his hand placed over his son’s chest, or holding him gently as the young royal lay motionless.

Even in his vegetative state, Prince Al-Waleed remained a symbol of royal dignity, often pictured in traditional headwear and cared for with the utmost respect.

Prince Khaled’s emotional tribute on X (formerly Twitter) announced his son’s death on Saturday with a verse from the Quran: “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.”

In another post, he quoted: “O reassured soul, Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], And enter among My [righteous] servants, And enter My Paradise.”

The Global Imams Council also released a statement expressing condolences to the Saudi Royal Family, writing: “The Global Imams Council extends its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the esteemed Royal Family, on the passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, who passed away after a long struggle that lasted nearly twenty years following a tragic accident.”

Funeral prayers are being held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, with thousands expected to attend. Additionally, mourners have been invited to pay their respects at Al-Fakhariya Palace from Sunday through Tuesday.

Featured image credit: Khaled bin Talal / X

The legendary soccer star Pelé has sadly passed away aged 82 following a battle with cancer, it has been confirmed.

Pelé - full name Edson Arantes do Nascimento is one of the most famous soccer players of all time and is often believed to be one of the greatest to play the sport.

The Brazilian's father - João Ramos do Nascimento - was a soccer player himself, but the money for players meant Pelé was not raised in a wealthy household, per Football History.

The legend goes that his family couldn't afford to buy him a football in his youth, so the future star would stuff socks and mold them into the shape of a ball.

Sadly, it has been revealed that following a battle with cancer, Pelé has passed away aged 82.

The news comes after Reuters reported in early December that the star had been moved to palliative care as his condition worsened.

In the weeks that followed, Pelé's daughter Kely Nascimento shared heartfelt images of her with her father on his hospital bed as well as family gathering by his bedside.

The news of his death was broken by his agent who informed the associated press.

Pelé broke many soccer records during his career, some of which still stand today. FIFA reports that the legend scored 1281 goals in 1363 games, but this figure is often disputed.

His time in the sport didn't get off to the best start as a series of clubs rejected him. But his professional career began in 1956 with the Brazilian club Santos and he scored during his debut appearance.

Just a year later, the budding young talent was the top scorer in the Brazilian league and this attracted the attention of the Brazilian national team.

In the 1958 World Cup, aged just 17, Pelé was instrumental for the South American side, scoring important goals in the semi-final and final to bring the trophy home to Brazil.

He was declared a national treasure by the Brazilian government, and his name was already cemented into the history of the country.

Pelé would go on to win a further two World Cups for Brazil, making him the player who has won the most with three - a record he still holds today.

Pelé announced his retirement in 1974, before briefly making a return to action for New York Cosmos. After winning the 1977 championship with the Cosmos, he hung up his boots for the final time.

Pelé was named athlete of the century by the French sports outlet L’Equipe in 1980 and received the same honor from the International Olympic Committee in 1999, per Britannica.

He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest to take to the pitch.

Our thoughts are with Pelé's friends, family, and fans during this time.

Featured image credit: Néstor J. Beremblum / Alamy

The "Sleeping Prince" of Saudi Arabia has passed away after spending the last 20 years in a coma following a horrific car crash.

In 2005, when Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled Al-Saud was just 15 years old and studying as a military cadet in London, he suffered a catastrophic car accident that caused a brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding, per the New York Post.

Despite immediate medical intervention, the injuries left him in a permanent coma.

He was flown back to Saudi Arabia and hospitalized at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he would remain for the rest of his life.

While he occasionally showed signs of physical response, the prince sadly never regained full consciousness.

Prince Al-Waleed was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, who steadfastly refused to give up hope for his son’s recovery. He famously rejected calls to remove life support and remained actively involved in his care for nearly 20 years.

His father broke the news of his passing in a deeply emotional post on X, formerly Twitter, quoting from the Quran: "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."

In a moving display of familial devotion, Prince Khaled was often seen by his son's side, including during hospital visits with Al-Waleed’s younger brothers, Prince Saud and Prince Mohammed.

During one such visit, he asked the public to pray for his son's recovery and awakening.

The announcement of Prince Al-Waleed’s death has triggered an outpouring of grief online, with the hashtag “Sleeping Prince” trending across social media platforms.

“May Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled, Rest In Peace. Deepest sympathies to his loved ones,” one user wrote.

Funeral prayers for the prince will be held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. Thousands are expected to attend, honoring a life that touched many despite its tragic course.

Our thoughts are with Prince Al-Waleed’s loved ones during this difficult time.

Featured image credit: Khaled bin Talal/X

A young girl who stood beside Prince William during the Euro 2025 trophy presentation has captured the internet’s attention, and now she’s speaking out.

On Sunday, July 27, England’s Lionesses clinched a dramatic victory against Spain in a tense penalty shootout in Basel, Switzerland, successfully defending their European Championship title. The win marked England Women’s second Euro trophy and a third for manager Sarina Wiegman, who also previously led the Netherlands to glory, The Guardian reports.

While the spotlight should have been on the jubilant players and the Prince of Wales, viewers were equally intrigued by a young girl who stood beside Prince William throughout the post-match ceremony. Her enthusiastic interaction with the players had many fans asking the same question: Who is she?

One social media user wrote: “Who is that girl on the podium next to Prince William? She keeps grabbing all the players’ hands while they’re still with him.” Another added: “That girl jumping in front of Prince William to get the handshakes, huge move. She has my respect.”

Though, the mystery didn’t last long. UEFA confirmed that the girl is 12-year-old Greta, who was invited to participate in the ceremony as part of the UEFA Foundation for Children initiative. Born in Portugal and now living in Switzerland, Greta lives with Dravet Syndrome (a rare and severe form of epilepsy) and has a deep passion for sport.

Recalling her experience, Greta said: “I was nervous at first, but then I saw the players smiling at me. It felt like I was part of their team.”

A UEFA representative praised her inclusion, saying: “Greta is a cheerful, open-minded, and determined young girl with a great passion for sport. Her enthusiasm, perseverance, and love of sport made her a fitting and inspiring choice to participate in the medal ceremony alongside UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.”

Greta is actively involved with PluSport, an organization in Switzerland that promotes inclusive sporting opportunities for young people with disabilities.

UEFA later posted a montage of Greta’s memorable moment on social media, including a heartwarming hug from England’s Chloe Kelly. The caption read: “Turning dreams into reality at [Euro 2025]... An unforgettable moment.”

And in case anyone was wondering, Greta, Prince William, and UEFA President Čeferin all stayed until the very end (unlike a certain US President) witnessing captain Leah Williamson proudly lift the trophy high above her head.

Featured image credit: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images.