Vajiralongkorn, Crown Prince of Thailand
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His Royal Highness Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (born July 28, 1952) is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara. He was given the title Somdech Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman by the King on 28th December 1972, making him the Crown Prince and heir to the throne (the suffix Sayam Makutrajakuman in his title is the official title for the Crown Prince in Thailand).
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Early Life
Vajiralongkorn was born in the Royal 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 (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.
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. From 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 term as a Buddhist monk, as is customary for all Thai Buddhist males.
Vajiralongkorn trained for periods with the United States, British and Australian armies, studying special forces demolition, unconventional warfare tactics and advance navigation training. He is a qualified military pilot and helicopter pilot. Although a military career is conventional for royal princes, Vajiralongkorn is unique in having taken part in military actions inside his own country. During 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.
Achievements
Vajiralongkorn now holds the ranks of General in the Royal Thai Army, Admiral in the Royal Thai Navy and Air Chief Marshall in the Royal Thai Air Force. His military role in recent years has become increasingly ceremonial. As his father has grown older, turning 75 in 2002, Vajiralongkorn has taken a more prominent part in royal ceremonial and public appearances.
Although the subject is never publicly discussed in Thailand, most observers believe that Vajiralongkorn shares none of the enormous popularity of his parents among the Thai public. This is partly because of his career as a military officer at a time when the public have turned against Thailand's long history of military rule, partly because of his irregular private life, and partly because he is seen as a cold and remote personality.
The Economist wrote in 2002: "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."
Family
On January 3, 1977 Vajiralongkorn married HRH Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara (born 1957), a cousin on his mother's side. The marriage ended in divorce in the 1980s, and Vajiralongkorn lived for some years with a common law wife, Yuvadhida Polpraserth, with whom he had four sons and a daughter. The lack of a legitimate male heir was the main reason why Thailand legislated to allow women to inherit the throne.
Vajiralongkorn was married again, to Mhom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayuthaya, later elevated to HRH Princess Srirasmi, on 10 February 2001, although this was not disclosed until recently. She gave birth to a boy on 29 April, 2005. Although he is the first legitimate son of Vajiralongkorn, the current Thai constitution allows princess to inherit the throne.
Vajiralongkorn had children with:
With HRH Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara:
- HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, born 7 December, 1978.
With Yuvadhida Polpraserth he had five children:
- HSH Prince Chudhavajra, born 29 August, 1979
- HSH Prince Vajaresra, 27 May, 1981
- HSH Prince Chakrivajra, 26 February, 1983
- HSH Prince Vajravira, 14 June, 1985
- HRH Princess Busya Nambejira (later changed to Siriwanwari), 8 January, 1987( elevated to HRH by royal command on 15 June, 2005.
Sons born by Yuvadhida are unlikely to be legible to inherit the throne.
With HRH Princess Srirasmi (elevated to HRH on 15 June, 2005) :
- HRH Prince Tipangkorn Rasmichoti, born 29 April, 2005, who apparently becomes second-in-line to the throne after his father HRH the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.et:Maha Vajiralongkorn