by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014
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.
Embed from Getty Images
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.