by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014
King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand was born on July 28, 1952, in the Ambara Villa of the Royal Dusit Palace, Bangkok, the second child and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara. He was named Crown Prince and heir to the throne on December 28, 1972.
Maha Vajiralongkorn has three sisters:
- Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (born 1951), married and divorced American businessman Peter Jensen, had two daughters and one son, their son was killed in the 2004 tsunami
- Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (born 1955), unmarried
- Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (born 1957), married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force, had two daughters, divorced
Following his primary education in Bangkok, he attended King’s Mead School and Millfield School, both in England, and The King’s School and Royal Military College, Duntroon, both in Australia. He later earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Sukhothai Thammatirat University in Bangkok. He has served in the Thai military forces since 1975 and 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.
Maha Vajiralongkorn has been married four times. His first wife was a first cousin on his mother’s side, Soamsavali Kitiyakara. They were married on January 3, 1977, and divorced in 1993. After their divorce, Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara retained her title as princess and remained a member of the Thai royal family. They had one daughter:
- Princess Bajrakitiyabha (born 1978)
Shortly after his first marriage, the crown prince began living with Yuvadhida Polpraserth, Thai actress. They had four sons and one daughter.
- Juthavachara Vivacharawongse (born 1979)
- Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse (born 1981)
- Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (born 1983)
- Vatcharawee Vivacharawongse (born 1985)
- Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (born 1987)
They eventually married in February 1994, and she took the name Sujarinee Mahidol na Ayudhaya. However, in 1996, she fled to the United Kingdom with her children. The Crown Prince accused her of adultery and managed to retrieve their daughter and bring her back to Thailand. Sujarinee and the couple’s sons were stripped of their royal titles and the couple’s marriage was dissolved. Known as Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, she moved with her sons to the United States.
Then, on February 10, 2001, Vajiralongkorn married for a third time, to Srirasm Akharaphongpreecha, at the Nonthaburi Palace. Srirasm had served as a lady-in-waiting in the Prince’s household since 1993. The marriage was not made known public until 2005, just a few months before their son was born. At the time of his birth, Srirasm was elevated to Princess of Thailand. The couple divorced on December 10, 2014. Two days later, Srirasm relinquished her royal titles and the Thai royal palace released this statement: “Princess Srirasmi, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn… has written to respectfully resign from her status in the royal family and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King.”
- Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (born 2005)
On May 1, 2019, just days before his coronation ceremonies, King Maha Vajiralongkorn married Suthida Tidjai at the Amphorn Sathan Residencial Hall in Bangkok. Suthida had been a flight attendant for Thai Airways, and in 2016, was appointed a Commander in the King’s Guard and promoted to the rank of General of the Royal Thai Army.
King Maha Vajralongkorn and Queen Suthida. source: Daily Mail
Upon his father’s death on October 13, 2016, it was announced that Maha Vajiralongkorn would be proclaimed King of Thailand following a period of personal mourning. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn did not want to be immediately named king to give the nation time to mourn his father’s death. He was proclaimed King of Thailand on December 1, 2016. Coronation ceremonies for King Maha Vajiralongkorn were held May 4 – May 6, 2019.
Major General Niramon Ounprom; Credit – Wikipedia
On July 28, 2019, King Maha Vajiralongkorn bestowed the title of Royal Noble Consort and the royal name of Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi to Major General Niramon Ounprom. Three months later a palace order was issued stating that Sineenat had been disrespectful to Queen Suthida and disloyal to the king stripped her of her title and ranks. Sineenat’s titles were restored on September 2, 2020, with a royal edict stating that she “is not tarnished” and “Henceforth, it will be as if she had never been stripped of her military ranks or royal decorations.”
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