Maha Vajiralongkorn
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| Maha Vajiralongkorn | |
| Crown Prince of Thailand | |
 Vajiralongkorn and Princess Srirasmi at the Malaysian National Day celebrations |
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| Full name | Maha Vajiralongkorn |
|---|---|
| Titles | HRH The Crown Prince of Thailand HRH Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand |
| Born | July 28, 1952 |
| Birthplace |  Bangkok, Thailand |
| Wife | Princess Srirasmi (2001-) Yuvadhida Polpraserth (1994-1996) Soamsavali Kitiyakara (1977-1991) |
| Offspring | Princess Bajrakitiyabha Siriwannawari Nariratana Dipangkorn Rasmijoti Prince Chudhavajra Prince Vajaresra Prince Chakrivajra Prince Vajravira |
| Royal House | House of Chakri |
| Father | Rama IX |
| Mother | Queen Sirikit |
Maha Vajiralongkorn (born July 28, 1952) is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King (Rama IX) of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit. He is currently crown prince of Thailand, and the Heir apparent to the throne.
At the age of 20, Vajiralongkorn was made the heir to the throne. He later graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, Australia. An officer in the Thai military, he trained with the US, British, and Australian armed services. He is a qualified military pilot and helicopter pilot. He took an active part in military operations against the Communist Party of Thailand during the 1970s, and also took part in border operations with Cambodia.
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[edit] Early life
Vajiralongkorn was born in the Ambara Villa of the Dusit Palace in Bangkok. He was educated at a primary school in Bangkok, and then at private secondary colleges in the United Kingdom (Millfield School, Somerset) and Australia (The King's School, Sydney). In 1972 the King gave him the title "Somdech Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman," making him the Crown Prince and heir to the throne.
[edit] Adult life
The Prince undertook military training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, Australia, and also completed an arts degree at Sukhothai Thammatirat University in Bangkok. Since 1975, he has served as a career officer in the Royal Thai Army. He served as a staff officer in the Directorate of Army Intelligence, and in 1978 he became head of the King's Own Bodyguard Battalion. In that year, however, he interrupted his military career to be ordained for a season as a Buddhist monk, as is customary for all Thai Buddhist males.
Vajiralongkorn trained for periods with the United States, British and Australian armed services, studying special forces demolition, unconventional warfare tactics and advanced navigation training. He is a qualified military pilot and a helicopter pilot. Although a military career is conventional for royal princes, Vajiralongkorn is unique in having taken an active part in military actions inside his own country. In the 1970s he led counter-insurgency campaigns against the forces of the Communist Party of Thailand in the North and Northeast of Thailand, and also took part in operations along the border with Cambodia during the years of the Khmer Rouge regime.
[edit] Role and responsibilities
Vajiralongkorn 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. His military role in recent years has become increasingly ceremonial. As his father has grown older, turning 80 in 2007, Vajiralongkorn has taken a more prominent part in royal ceremonial and public appearances.
He officially opened the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The event coincided with the 80th birthday of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
[edit] Public and the Media
Due to the lèse majesté law, criticisms of the royal family are strictly prohibited. However, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn's private life continues to be a controversial subject of discussion although not publicly.
In the 10 January 2002 edition of the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), an article appeared suggesting that Vajiralongkorn had business ties with then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. An immediate ban was placed on distribution of the magazine, and the Thai government, citing a threat to national security, suspended the visas of the FEER's two Thailand correspondents, Shawn Crispin and Rodney Tasker [1].
In 2002, The Economist wrote that, "Vajiralongkorn is held in much less esteem [than the king]. Bangkok gossips like to swap tales of his lurid personal life. One of his sisters, another possible heir to the throne, is more popular, but Thailand has never been ruled by a woman. Besides, no successor, however worthy, can hope to equal the stature King Bhumibol has attained after 55 years on the throne." This issue of The Economist was banned in Thailand.
[edit] Family
On January 3, 1977 Vajiralongkorn married Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara (born 1957), a first cousin on his mother's side. They had one daughter, Bajrakitiyabha in 1978. Vajiralongkorn started living with Yuvadhida Polpraserth in the late 1970's and had several children with her while he was still married to Soamsavali. Although Soamsavali had refused divorce for many years, Vajiralongkorn was finally able to sue for divorce in the Family Court in January 1993. In the court proceedings, Vajiralongkorn accused Soamsavali of being completely at fault for the failed relationship. She was not able to refute the charges due to the prohibition against lèse majesté. The divorce was finalized in July 1993.[2] Soamsavali and her daughter continue to play a significant role in royal ceremonies.
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When Vajiralongkorn was introduced to Yuvadhida Polpraserth (she later changed her name to Sujarinee) she was an aspiring actress. She became his steady companion and gave birth to his first son, Juthawachara, on 29 August 1979. He later had three other sons and a daughter by her. They were married at a palace ceremony in February 1994, where they were blessed by the King and the Princess Mother, but not by the Queen. After the marriage, she was allowed to change her name to Mom Sujarinee Mahidol na Ayutthaya, signifying she was a commoner married to a royal. Sujarinee was also commissioned as a major in the army and took part with Vajiralongkorn in royal ceremonies. Their relationship ended in 1996 with her fleeing to exile in England with the children. Vajiralongkorn retrieved their daughter and brought her back to Thailand to live with him. Their daughter was later elevated to the rank of Princess whilst Sujarinee and her sons were stripped of their diplomatic passports. She and her sons later moved to the United States. As of 2007, Sujarinee is known as Sujarinee Vivacharawongse.
Vajiralongkorn married again, on February 10, 2001, to Srirasmi Akharaphongpreecha, a commoner from a modest background who had been in his service since 1992. The marriage was not disclosed to the public until early 2005. She gave birth to a son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, on April 29, 2005 and was elevated to become HRH Princess Srirasmi, Mom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayuthaya. The son was immediately elevated to the rank of Prince. In a magazine interview, Vajiralongkorn stated his intention to settle down.
[edit] Children
With Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara:
- HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, born December 7, 1978.
With Yuvadhida Polpraserth:
- HSH Prince Juthawachara, born August 29, 1979
- HSH Prince Vacharaeson, May 27, 1981
- HSH Prince Chakriwat, February 26, 1983
- HSH Prince Vacharawee, June 14, 1985
- HSH Princess Busya Nambejira (later changed to Siriwanwari), January 8, 1987. Elevated to HRH Princess Siriwannawari Nariratana by royal command on June 15, 2005.
With Princess Srirasmi (elevated to HRH on June 15, 2005) :
- HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, born April 29, 2005
[edit] References
- ^ Duncan. McCargo, Media and Politics in Pacific Asia, page 146
- ^ Nonthaburi Family Court, Documents of Case #79/2536, 14 January 2007
- Paul M. Handley, The King Never Smiles, Yale University Press, 2006
