Sukhothai Palace or Sukhodaya Palace (; ) is a royal residence situated on Samsen Road in Dusit District,

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

, Thailand. It is nearby to Dusit Palace and Vajira Hospital. The palace was the residence of King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII) and King Vajiralongkorn (King Rama X) before they ascended to the throne. It has since become the official residence of Princess Bajrakitiyabha and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.

History

The palace was built in 1918. It was commissioned by Queen Saovabha, the wife of King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was cha ...

as a wedding gift for her youngest son; Prince Prajadhipok, the Prince of Sukhothai and Rambhai Barni. King

Vajiravudh Vajiravudh (1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VI. He reigned from 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts to create and pro ...

bestowed the name "Sukhothai Palace" to the new residence. Sukhothai Palace is regarded as a masterpiece of design in the combining of Western architecture with Thai decorative arts. The palace consists of three main buildings: the Yai Building, Mai Building and Nam building. All are connected together with via a raised walkway decorated with wood carvings and Thai patterned eaves. During various periods of ill health, Queen Saovabha often came to recuperate at the palace, which is located on the banks of the Samsen canal. When Prajadhipok became king, the royal couple moved to the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace for a period of time, however they then moved back to Sukhothai Palace. After the

Siamese revolution of 1932 The Siamese revolution of 1932 or Siamese coup d'état of 1932 ( or ) was a coup d'état by the People's Party which occurred in Siam on 24 June 1932. It ended Siam's centuries-long absolute monarchy rule under the Chakri dynasty and resulte ...

the royal couple went to England, Prajadhipok abdicating the throne in 1935. The king never returned and died in England on the 30 May 1941. During this period the palace became the property of the

Crown Property Bureau The Crown Property Bureau (CPB) (; ) is legally the administrative agency responsible for managing the property of the King of Thailand. The king had appointed six members of the bureau's governing board, with the seventh the sitting Minister of ...

and was used as a government office. In 1968 Queen Rambai Barni travelled back to Thailand permanently and the palace was returned to her. She lived at the palace until her death on the 22 May 1984. Afterwards Prince Vajiralongkorn, then the

Crown Prince of Thailand The Crown Prince of Thailand (or Siam; ; ; lit. the royal son of Siam) is a title held by the heir apparent to the Monarchy of Thailand, Thai throne. It was created by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1886, for his son Prince Vajirunhis, Maha Vaji ...

, lived at the Sukhothai Palace until he moved to Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall.

References

{{coord, 13.7815, N, 100.5097, E, type:landmark_region:TH, display=title Royal residences in Bangkok Residential buildings completed in 1918 Dusit district