In remembrance of a Princess, H.R.H. Galyani Vadhana
HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana was born on 6th May 1923 in London, England being the only daughter of HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla; the sixty-ninth son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and seventh son by Queen Savang Vadhana, and Miss Sangwal Talabhat (later known as HRH Princess Srinagarindra, The Princess' Mother).
She was firstly named "May" on her birth certificate and was later named Mom Chao Galyani Vadhana Mahidol by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). The word "Vadhana" in her name originates from one of her paternal grandmothers, Savang Vadhana. In 1927, she was subsequently promoted to the royal rank, a Princess of Thailand (Phra Vorawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao) by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII).
On the occasion of the sixth circle 72nd birthday anniversary of Princess Galyani Vadhana on 6th May 1995, her brother, King Bhumibol gave her the noble title "Krom Luang Narathiwat Rajanagarindra" (loosely translated as "Princess of Narathiwat"), making her the only female member of the Chakri Royal Family in the reign of King Rama IX to have been bestowed this title.
During the announcement of the honored title, The King said the Princess was his only elder sister and had been with him through both good and bad times, since they were young. She was the only one who had won his respect and had always supported him in the hope of making him happy. She had represented The King carrying out various royal works and had always taken good care of their mother, which was a great relief to him.
After living in Thailand at Sra Pathum Palace until she was two, the Princess accompanied her parents to Germany where King Ananda Mahidol was born. In 1926, the Mahidol family moved to Boston so Prince Mahidol could study medicine at Harvard University. While the young Princess was attending kindergarten in Boston, her youngest brother was born, later to become His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The family returned to Thailand in 1928, but after less than a year of medical practice, Prince Mahidol passed away as a result of chronic illness in 1929. The Princess was six years old.
Despite her grief, the Princess� Mother took great care to ensure that the three little royals had a normal and happy childhood. The family photo albums show the royal children enjoying outdoor games, playing in a sand box, digging waterways in the lawn, riding horses, flying kites and swimming in the sea.
Princess Galyani was a student at Rajini School when the Princess� Mother decided to move the family to Switzerland on the advice of their grandmother, Queen Savang Vadhana, citing little Prince Ananda Mahidol�s frail health which was vulnerable to tropical heat and humidity. The move was also an attempt to protect the young royals from the political instability in the country at that time.
Accepting the Queen�s idea, the Princess� Mother took her three children to live in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1933. There the Princess started her primary education at the Miremont School. Tumultuous Thai politics finally caught up with the young royals when King Prachadhipok, Rama VII, abdicated in 1934 and Prince Ananda Mahidol, then only nine years old, was called upon to take the throne.
The Princess� Mother, however, did her upmost to ensure that life remained as normal as possible for her three children. HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana continued her secondary education at École Supérieur de Jeune Filles de la Ville de Lausanne, where her curriculum included Latin and German. In 1938, she was enrolled at the International School of Geneva, a boarding school.
She topped her class when she graduated and was ranked third in the country. The Princess chose to study chemistry for her bachelor�s degree at Lausanne University�s Faculty of Science. Pursuing her interests in liberal arts, she also took parallel courses in literature, philosophy and psychology at the Faculty of Social Science.
When Princess Galyani Vadhana married a commoner, Col Aram Ratanakul Serirerngrit, in 1944, she relinquished her title, as required by Palace Law. She had one daughter from the marriage, Thanpuying Tasanavalaya Sornsonggram. The marriage ended in divorce, following which His Majesty the King restored her royal title.
After returning to Thailand in 1950, the Princess followed her calling and became a teacher. For nine years she taught French as well as French literature and history civilization at Chulalongkorn University. The Princess later took up a post at Thammasat University as head of the French Language and Literature section as well as the Foreign Language Department, which covered German, Japanese, Chinese and Russian.
She also helped formulate the curriculum for the university�s French language and literature course. The Princess also set up the Thai Association of Teachers of French to help improve the teaching of French in this vicinity. During this period, the Princess gave special lectures at universities across the country as well.
Due to her increasing royal duties the Princess was forced to relinquish her teaching work, but she continued throughout the years to lend support to various educational institutions as well as to scholarship programs for rural students and young gifted musicians.
In addition to her well-known love of classical music, Princess Galyani was always keen to support traditional arts in Thailand. When the Joe Louis Theatre, a traditional Thai puppet troupe, suffered financial problems and risked closing down in 2004, she appealed to the cultural authorities to help rescue this practitioner who was a part of the country�s puppeteering heritage.
Health care was also one of Princess Galyani Vadhana�s interests, an apparent effort on her part to continue the causes of her father, Prince Mahidol of Songkla, known as Thailand�s Father of Modern Medicine. All of these things are just a small part of her kindness and goodness for her people and even though HRH passed away, her name will be remembered forever.
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