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Princess Suvadhana (; , 15 April 1905 – 10 October 1985) was the royal consort of 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 ...
(or Rama VI) of
Siam Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
. Her original name was Khrueakaeo Abhayavongsa (; ). She was born a commoner; her father was Lord Abhayabhupesa (Lueam Abhayavongsa) and her mother was Ms. Lek Bunnag.


Life and marriage

Khrueakaeo first met King Vajiravudh in 1924 during a dramatic production, in which they both acted. Soon after, Khrueakaeo was renamed Suvadhana and elevated to the rank of a minor consort. Later that same year they were married at the
Grand Palace The Grand Palace (, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. . ) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the officia ...
in
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 ...
. Although King Vajiravudh initiated many Siamese nationalistic policies of the 1920s, his queen Suvadhana was a daughter of the Thai governor of Phratabong province (
Battambang Battambang (, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) is the capital of Battambang province and the List of cities and towns in Cambodia, third largest city in Cambodia. The city is situated on the Sangkae River, which winds its way through t ...
). Suvadhana's grand aunt, Khun Chom Iem Busba, was the wife of King Norodom I of Cambodia.Sokheounpang.
Khmer-Siam Royal Family Tree
'' Retrieved 27 January 2013
When Suvadhana became pregnant in 1925, the King elevated her rank to that of Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana (HRH Princess Suvadhana, Princess Consort of Siam; ) to preserve the rank of the royal child,who was going to be delivered, as ''Chao Fa'' with style of ''Royal Highness.'' Not soon after the King fell gravely ill, on the 25 November 1925, Suvadhana gave birth to a daughter, Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda who was the only child of the King.


Exile in England

The Princess and her daughter continued to live at the
Dusit Palace Dusit Palace (, RTGS: ''Phra Ratcha Wang Dusit'') is a compound of royal residences in Bangkok, Thailand. Constructed over a large area north of Rattanakosin Island between 1897 and 1901 by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). The palace, originally cal ...
, raising her daughter during the reign of her husband's younger brother King
Prajadhipok Prajadhipok (8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941) was the seventh king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VII. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and social changes during the 1932 Siamese revolution. He i ...
. In 1938, as war loomed, the Princess and her daughter emigrated to the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, following the example of Prajadhipok who went in exile there in 1935. First she lived at Fairhill Villa in
Camberley Camberley is a town in north-west Surrey, England, around south-west of central London. It is in the Surrey Heath, Borough of Surrey Heath and is close to the county boundaries with Hampshire and Berkshire. Known originally as "Cambridge Tow ...
,
Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...
, she later moved to
Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
. During the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
the Princess volunteered for the
British Red Cross The British Red Cross Society () is the United Kingdom body of the worldwide neutral and impartial humanitarian network the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with 1 ...
, donating winter clothes and other equipments to British soldiers; she later received a letter of recommendation from the organization. She would spend 22 years in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, she made her own living by investing in stocks and bonds; living a comfortable lifestyle with Thai servants.


Return and later life

The Princess and her daughter returned to
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
permanently in 1957. They bought some land on Sukhumvit Road Soi 38, and build the Ruenruedi Villa Palace. During her later years she carried out many royal duties and became patron of many charitable organizations. Suvadhana died at Siriraj Hospital on the 10 October 1985 at the age of 80, her funeral was presided over by King
Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej (5 December 192713 October 2016), titled Rama IX, was King of Thailand from 1946 until Death and funeral of Bhumibol Adulyadej, his death in 2016. His reign of 70 years and 126 days is the longest of any List of Thai mo ...
(or Rama IX) and Queen
Sirikit Sirikit (born ''Mom Rajawongse'' Sirikit Kitiyakara; 12 August 1932) is a member of the Thai royal family who was List of Thai royal consorts#Rattanakosin Kingdom, Queen of Thailand from 28 April 1950 to 13 October 2016 as the wife of King Bhum ...
.


Honours

* * * * * * * * * * The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri * Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Illustrious
Order of Chula Chom Klao The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (; ) was established on 16 November 1873 by King Rama V of The Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) to commemorate the 90th Jubilee of the Chakri Dynasty and bears his name (จุลจอมเกล� ...
* Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit * King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal (First Class) * King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal (Second Class) * King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class) * The Red Cross Commendation Medal


Ancestors


References


Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana Kreuakaew Abhayavongsa


External links




The Bunnag Lineage Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suvadhana 1906 births Thai people of Khmer descent 1985 deaths Abhaiwongse family 20th-century Thai women 20th-century Chakri dynasty Thai princesses consort Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit Dames Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao Princesses by marriage