by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand was born at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand on April 2, 1955, the third of four children of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara. She has three siblings:

• Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (born 1951), married and divorced American businessman Peter Jensen, had two daughters and one son, their son was killed in the 2004 tsunami
• King Maha Vajiralongkorn (born 1952), married (1) Soamsavali Kitiyakara, had one daughter, divorced  (2) Yuvadhida Polpraserth, had five children, divorced  (3) Srirasm Akharaphongpreecha, had one son, divorced  (4) Suthida Tidjai
• Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (born 1957), married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force, had two daughters, divorced

Princess Sirindhorn completed her primary and secondary education at the exclusive Chitralada School, established for the children of the Thai royal family. She then attended Chulalongkorn University, earning a bachelor’s degree in history in 1976. After that, she enrolled in two Master’s programs concurrently, earning a master’s degree in Oriental Epigraphy in 1979 from Silpakorn University, and another in Oriental Languages from Chulalongkorn University in 1980. She later received a doctorate in Educational Development in 1986 from Srinakharinwirot University.

Princess Sirindhorn greeting Crown Princess Masako of Japan at the Dutch enthronement, 2013. photo: Zimbio

The Princess is a professor and Head of the History Department at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, in addition to many royal duties and visits on behalf of the King. Princess Sirindhorn is perhaps more widely known throughout the world than her brother and sisters, as she has for many years represented her father at events outside of Thailand. She often represents the Thai Royal Family at other royal events, such as the enthronement ceremonies for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (along with her brother).

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King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s son Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, daughter Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter Princess Bajrakitiyabha Manidol, sister Princess Ubolratana, sister Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Queen Suthida attend his coronation in 2019

The princess is also active in charitable causes. She serves as Executive Vice President of the Thai Red Cross Society, and Executive Chairman of the Chaipattana Foundation (in charge of His Majesty the King’s development and environmental conservation projects), the Anandha Mahidol Foundation (to promote higher education), and the King Rama II Foundation (to conserve and promote Thai culture). In addition, she serves as President of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation (to provide international recognition to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of medicine and public health). She has also founded the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Charity Fund with aims to support projects that improve people’s life conditions including programs that relieve those suffering from catastrophe.

Princess Sirindhorn with her parents, 2012. photo: Bangkok Post

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by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Photo: Zimbio

Srirasm Suwadi, the former Princess Srirasm of Thailand, was the third wife of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, the son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara, and now King of Thailand. She was born Srirasm Akharapongpreecha on December 9, 1971, the third of five children of Aphirut and Wanthanee Akharaphongpreecha. Following her primary education, she attended the Bangkok Business College. In 1993, she became a lady-in-waiting in the Crown Prince’s household. She later graduated from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in Management Science, and Kasetsart University in 2007 with a master’s degree in Home Economics.

Srirasm and the Crown Prince were married on February 10, 2001, at the Nonthaburi Palace. Their marriage was not announced until early 2005 when Srirasm was pregnant with the couple’s only son. After his birth, she was elevated to Princess of Thailand.

• Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (born 2005)

Following her son’s birth, she founded the “Sai Yai Rak Jak Mae Su Luk” (Love and care from mother to children) campaign. This organization promotes breastfeeding and healthy upbringing of children. She was often seen at official events along with her husband, both within Thailand as well as representing the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at events elsewhere in the world.

On December 10, 2014, the couple divorced.  Two days later, Srirasm relinquished her royal titles and the Thai royal palace released this statement: “Princess Srirasmi, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn… has written to respectfully resign from her status in the royal family and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King.”

• BBC: Thailand crown prince’s wife resigns from royal role

After Srirasmi’s divorce, her parents were arrested for lèse-majesté, a French term meaning “to do wrong to majesty”, is an offense against the dignity of a reigning sovereign Thailand’s criminal code has carried a prohibition against lèse-majesté since 1908. Srirasmi’s parents later admitted to misusing their royal connection twelve years earlier which led to a former neighbor being jailed on bogus fraud charges. Both were sentenced to five years in prison, which was reduced to two and a half years.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand; Credit – Wikipedia

King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand was born on July 28, 1952, in the Ambara Villa of the Royal Dusit Palace, Bangkok, the second child and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara. He was named Crown Prince and heir to the throne on December 28, 1972.

Vajiralongkorn has three sisters:

• Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (born 1951), married and divorced American businessman Peter Jensen, had two daughters and one son, their son was killed in the 2004 tsunami
• Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (born 1955), unmarried
• Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (born 1957), married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force, had two daughters, divorced

Following his primary education in Bangkok, he attended King’s Mead School and Millfield School, both in England, and The King’s School and Royal Military College, Duntroon, both in Australia. He later earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Sukhothai Thammatirat University in Bangkok. He has served in the Thai military forces since 1975 and holds the ranks of General in the Royal Thai Army, Admiral in the Royal Thai Navy, and Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force.

Vajiralongkorn has been married four times. His first wife Soamsavali Kitiyakara was a first cousin on his mother’s side. They were married on January 3, 1977, and divorced in 1993. After their divorce, Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara retained her title as princess and remained a member of the Thai royal family. They had one daughter:

• Princess Bajrakitiyabha (born 1978)

Shortly after his first marriage, the crown prince began living with Yuvadhida Polpraserth, a Thai actress. They had four sons and one daughter.

• Juthavachara Vivacharawongse (born 1979)
• Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse  (born 1981)
• Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (born 1983)
• Vatcharawee Vivacharawongse (born 1985)
• Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (born 1987)

They eventually married in February 1994, and she took the name Sujarinee Mahidol na Ayudhaya. However, in 1996, she fled to the United Kingdom with her children. The Crown Prince accused her of adultery and managed to retrieve their daughter and bring her back to Thailand. Sujarinee and the couple’s sons were stripped of their royal titles and the couple’s marriage was dissolved. Known as Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, she moved with her sons to the United States.

Then, on February 10, 2001, Vajiralongkorn married for a third time, to Srirasm Akharaphongpreecha, at the Nonthaburi Palace. Srirasm had served as a lady-in-waiting in the Prince’s household since 1993. The marriage was not made public until 2005, just a few months before their son was born. At the time of his birth, Srirasm was elevated to Princess of Thailand.

• Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (born 2005)

The couple divorced on December 10, 2014. Two days later, Srirasm relinquished her royal titles and the Thai royal palace released this statement: “Princess Srirasmi, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn… has written to respectfully resign from her status in the royal family and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King.”

On May 1, 2019, just days before his coronation ceremonies, King Vajiralongkorn married Suthida Tidjai at the Amphorn Sathan Residencial Hall in Bangkok. Suthida had been a flight attendant for Thai Airways, and in 2016, was appointed a Commander in the King’s Guard and promoted to the rank of General of the Royal Thai Army.

King Vajralongkorn and Queen Suthida. source: Daily Mail

Upon his father’s death on October 13, 2016, it was announced that Vajiralongkorn would be proclaimed King of Thailand following a period of personal mourning. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn did not want to be immediately named king to give the nation time to mourn his father’s death. He was proclaimed King of Thailand on December 1, 2016.  Coronation ceremonies for King Vajiralongkorn were held May 4 – May 6, 2019.

Major General Niramon Ounprom; Credit – Wikipedia

On July 28, 2019, King Maha Vajiralongkorn bestowed the title of Royal Noble Consort and the royal name of Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi to Major General Niramon Ounprom. Three months later a palace order was issued stating that Sineenat had been disrespectful to Queen Suthida and disloyal to the king stripped her of her title and ranks.  Sineenat’s titles were restored on September 2, 2020, with a royal edict stating that she “is not tarnished” and “Henceforth, it will be as if she had never been stripped of her military ranks or royal decorations.”

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi of Thailand was born on April 5, 1951, in Lausanne, Switzerland. She is the eldest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and Sirikit Kitiyakara.

Princess Ubolratana has three siblings:

• King Maha Vajiralongkorn (born 1952), married (1) Soamsavali Kitiyakara, had one daughter, divorced  (2) Yuvadhida Polpraserth, had five children, divorced  (3) Srirasm Akharaphongpreecha, had one son, divorced  (4) Suthida Tidjai
• Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (born 1955), unmarried
• Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (born 1957), married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force, had two daughters, divorced

Following her primary and secondary schooling in Thailand, Princess Ubolratana attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), graduating in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She later earned her master’s degree in Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

On July 25, 1972, she married American businessman Peter Ladd Jensen. The couple had met while both attending MIT. Upon her marriage, she relinquished her royal style and title. They had three children who were born and grew up in the United States:

• Ploypailin Jensen (born 1981), married David Wheeler, had two sons and one daughter
• Bhumi Jensen (1983-2004), killed by the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004
• Sirikitiya Jensen (born 1985)

Ubolratana and her husband divorced in 1998, and in 2001 she returned to live in Thailand. In 2004, her son Bhumi, who had autism, was killed in the tsunami which ravaged Thailand. She subsequently established the Khun Poom Foundation in his memory. The foundation helps children with autism and other learning disabilities.

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King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s son Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, daughter Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter Princess Bajrakitiyabha Manidol, sister Princess Ubolratana, sister Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Queen Suthida attend his enthronement in 2019

Princess Ubolratana is often seen at official ceremonies and events with her family. An aspiring actress, she has appeared in two Thai movies – Where The Miracles Happen in 2008, and My Best Bodyguard in 2010.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Queen Sirikit of Thailand; Credit – Wikipedia

Sirikit Kitiyakara was born on August 12, 1932, in Bangkok, Siam, now called Thailand. She is the third of four children of Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara and Bua Snidvongs. Queen Sirikit’s paternal grandfather Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana was the twelfth son of King Chulalongkorn.  The Queen shares a descent from King Chulalongkorn with her husband King Bhumibol and they are first cousins once removed. Queen Sirikit has two older brothers and one younger sister: Galyanakit Kitiyakara (1929 – 1987), Adulyakit Kitiyakara (1930 – 2004), and Busba Kitiyakara (born 1934).

King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit (back row in the middle) and her family in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 19, 1949, when their engagement took place; Credit – thailand.prd.go.th

Queen Sirikit began her primary education at the Rajini School in Bangkok, Thailand. She then attended St. Francis Xavier Convent School in the Samsen District of Bangkok. Her father became the Thai Ambassador to France and Denmark and finally the Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the United Kingdom. Queen Sirikit accompanied her father and was educated in all three countries.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand succeeded to the throne on June 9, 1946, upon the death of his older brother King Ananda Mahidol from a gunshot wound under circumstances that have never been fully explained. At the time, the 18-year-old Bhumibol Adulyadej was attending the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He returned to the university after his brother died and continued his studies.

During his university days, King Bhumibol Adulyadej frequently visited Paris and it was there that he met his future wife Sirikit Kitiyakara, the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. Both Sirikit and King Bhumibol Adulyadej were studying at the Thai embassy and a relationship developed. In October 1948, King Bhumibol Adulyadej had a serious car accident on a road near Lausanne, Switzerland, and lost his right eye and wore a prosthetic for the rest of his life. Sirikit visited him frequently during his hospital stay and decided to attend school in Lausanne so she could get to know the king better.

The couple became engaged on July 19, 1949, and married at Srapathum Palace in Bangkok, Thailand on April 28, 1950, just a week before the king’s coronation. After the coronation on May 5, 1950, the 22-year-old king and the 17-year-old queen returned to their studies in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol on their wedding day; Credit – thailand.prd.go.th

The couple had three daughters and one son:

• Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (born 1951), married and divorced American businessman Peter Jensen, had two daughters and one son, their son was killed in the 2004 tsunami
• King Maha Vajiralongkorn (born 1952), married (1) Soamsavali Kitiyakara, had one daughter, divorced  (2) Yuvadhida Polpraserth, had five children, divorced  (3) Srirasm Akharaphongpreecha, had one son, divorced  (4) Suthida Tidjai
• Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (born 1955), unmarried
• Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (born 1957), married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force, had two daughters, divorced

In 1956, as is customary for Thai Buddhist males, King Bhumibol temporarily became a Buddhist monk and Queen Sirikit served as Regent. Because of the excellent way she served as Regent, King Bhumibol gave her the style “Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat” which would translate to Queen Regent.

Queen Sirikit was well known for her charitable work. She was President of the Thai Red Cross Society and was active in relief work for the many refugees from Cambodia and Burma in Thailand. The Queen took an active role in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in southern Thailand in December 2004. Tragically, the tsunami took the life of her grandson Bhumi Jensen, the son of her eldest daughter.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s health declined in his later years. The king resided at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok for several years. On July 21, 2012, Queen Sirikit felt unsteady and staggered while exercising at Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol Adulyadej resided. Doctors determined that she had suffered a stroke. The Queen was not seen in public until August 2013 when the King was discharged from the hospital. Since then, Queen Sirikit has refrained from making public appearances.  King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on October 13, 2016, at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, at the age of 88, following several years of illness.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was born December 5, 1927, at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States. He was the youngest of three children of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and his commoner wife Princess Srinagarindra.  At the time of King Bhumibol’s birth, his father was studying medicine at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

King Bhumibol had two siblings:

• Princess Galyani Vadhana (1923 – 2008), married (1) Colonel Aram Rattanakul Serireongrit, had one daughter, divorced  (2) Prince Varananda Dhavaj, no children
• King Ananda Mahidol (1925 – 1946), unmarried, King Bhumibol’s predecessor on the throne

King Bhumibol on his mother’s lap with his brother and sister; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1928, King Bhumibol’s family returned to Thailand after his father received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. On September 24, 1929, King Bhumibol’s father Prince Mahidol Adulyadej died of kidney failure at the age of 37. Prince Mahidol Adulyadej did much to improve medicine and public health in Thailand and is considered the father of modern medicine and public health in Thailand.

King Bhumibol began his education at Mater Dei School in Bangkok, Thailand. In 1933, King Bhumibol, his mother, and his siblings moved to Switzerland where he attended Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande in Lausanne Switzerland. In 1934, King Prajadhipok, King Bhumibol’s uncle, abdicated and as he had no children, King Bhumibol’s 9-year-old brother Ananda Mahidol became king. The family remained in Switzerland and regents were appointed to take over the duties of the young king. King Bhumibol completed his secondary education at the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne and received a baccalauréat des lettres (high-school diploma with a major in French literature, Latin, and Greek). King Bhumibol began studying at the University of Lausanne but returned to Thailand in 1945 when World War II ended.

In his childhood, King Bhumibol began two hobbies that would become lifelong passions. At the age of seven, he received his first camera and after that wherever he went, his camera went also.  Some of his many photographs are displayed at the King Bhumibol Photographic Museum. In 1942 at the age of 15, King Bhumibol became a jazz enthusiast and started to play the saxophone. He was an accomplished jazz saxophone player and composer, playing Dixieland and New Orleans jazz. The King also played the clarinet, trumpet, guitar, and piano.

On June 9, 1946, King Bhumibol became king at the age of 18. King Bhumibol’s brother King Ananda Mahidol was found shot dead in his bedroom in the Boromphiman Throne Hall at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, four days before he was scheduled to return to Switzerland to finish his doctoral degree in law at the University of Lausanne. The circumstances of King Ananda Mahidol’s death have never been fully explained. At the end of the mourning period, King Bhumibol returned to Switzerland to complete his university studies.

• Unofficial Royalty: The Mysterious Death of Ananda Mahidol, King of Thailand

During his university days, King Bhumibol frequently visited Paris and it was there that he met his future wife Sirikit Kitiyakara, the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. In October of 1948, King Bhumibol Adulyadej had a serious car accident on a road near Lausanne, Switzerland, and lost his right eye and wore a prosthetic for the rest of his life.  Sirikit visited him frequently during his hospital stay and decided to attend school in Lausanne so she could get to know the king better. The couple became engaged on July 19, 1949, and married at Srapathum Palace in Bangkok, Thailand on April 28, 1950, just a week before the king’s coronation. After the coronation on May 5, 1950, the 22-year-old king and the 17-year-old queen returned to their studies in Lausanne, Switzerland. The couple had three daughters and one son:

• Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (born 1951), married and divorced American businessman Peter Jensen, had two daughters and one son, their son was killed in the 2004 tsunami
• King Maha Vajiralongkorn (born 1952), married (1) Soamsavali Kitiyakara, had one daughter, divorced  (2) Yuvadhida Polpraserth, had five children, divorced  (3) Srirasm Akharaphongpreecha, had one son, divorced  (4) Suthida Tidjai
• Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (born 1955), unmarried
• Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (born 1957), married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force, had two daughters, divorced

King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit on their wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

King Bhumibol’s coronation was held on May 5, 1950, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. On Coronation Day, King Bhumibol’s consort was made Queen of Thailand.  On June 9, 2006, King Bhumibol celebrated his 60th anniversary as the King of Thailand, becoming the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history.

The Coronation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej; Credit – www.phuketgazette.net

King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s health declined in his later years. The King resided at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok for several years.  He left the hospital in August 2013 but returned intermittently until 2015 when he returned to the hospital permanently.

On the occasion of his 85th birthday, December 5, 2012, King Bhumibol made an appearance on the palace balcony. Hundreds of thousands of Thais waving flags crowded around Bangkok’s Royal Plaza to witness a rare public appearance by their revered and ailing king. Queen Sirikit did not attend. She has not made public appearances since suffering a stroke in July of 2012.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on October 13, 2016, at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, at the age of 88, following several years of illness.  At the time of his death, he was the world’s longest-reigning current monarch, having reigned for 70 years and 126 days.  The King’s son, Maha Vajiralongkorn was proclaimed King of Thailand following a period of personal mourning.   Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, did not want to be immediately named king to give the nation time to mourn his father’s death.

The King’s remains lay in state from October 16, 2016, until the cremation ceremony on October 26, 2017.  While the King’s remains lay in state, foreign dignitaries paid their respects.  The public square Sanam Luang was used as the cremation ground and on February 27, 2017, the construction of an elaborate, temporary crematorium began. The cremation took place on October 26, 2017, thirteen days after the first anniversary of the King’s death. On October 29, 2017, the royal ashes were enshrined at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.

The Royal Crematorium; Credit – Wikipedia

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