Prince Vajiralongkorn was invested as
Crown Prince by His Majesty in 1972. He married in 1977
and the following year his royal consort, Her Royal Highness
Princess Somsawali, gave birth to Their Majesties's first
grandchild, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajarakitiyabha.
Princess Somsawali is involved in many charitable organizations
and activaties, particularly those dealing with public
welfare, often bringing her daughter along.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn's younger sisters, Their Royal Highnesses
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess
Chulabhorn, were born in Bangkok in 1955 and 1957
respectively. Both Princesses received their education
in Thailand, from primary school through university.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the
first of the Royal Children to attend a local institution
of higher learning, received her B.A. degree from the
Faculty of Arts of Chulalongkorn Unversity, where she
majored in the Thai language. She also holds an M.A. degree
in Oriental Epigraphy from Silpakorn University and a
doctorate in Development Education from Srinakharinwirot
University. A gifted performer on traditional Thai musical
instruments, she regularly accompanies her father on his
visits to his provincial projects and assists him in collecting
information relevant to their operation.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn graduated with
a B.Sc. degree from Kasetsart University. A gifted scientist
who was awarded the coveted Einstein Gold Medal in 1986,
she also has a doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Mahidol
University. On December 1, 1987, she set up the Chulabhorn
Research Institute to promote scientific research in Thailand,
and she has lactured on a number of occasions before academic
groups abroad. In 1982 she was married to Flight Lieutenant
Virayuth Didyasarin, a fighter pilot, and they now have
two daughters, Their Royal Highness Princess Siribhachudhbhorn
and Princess Adityadornkitikhun.
Both Her Royal Highness Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn
have travelled abroad frequently to represent their country
at a variety of ceremonies.
The Royal Children have always carried
out their duties with great efficiency and dedication,
lending valuable support to His Majesty in his many tasks
of national development. In 1978 Her Royal Highness Princess
Sirindhorn was bestowed with the new style of title of
"Somdech Phra Debaratanarajsuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri
Siridhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari"
in recognition of her services to the throne and to the
nation. Throughout Thai history, sucession to the throne
has always been through the male line; recent constitutional
amendments, however, now stipulate that if there is no
male heir, the Parliament may approve succession of a
royal daughter to become the ruling monarch, thus breaking
a tradition of 700 years standing and providing further
proof of the monarchy's modern views.
