Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, the Princess Royal and the Princess Debaratana Rajasuda (Thai: มหาจักรีสิรินธร, Thai pronunciation:[mā.hǎːt͡ɕàk.krīːsì.rīn.tʰɔ̄ːn]; RTGS: Maha Chakkri Sirinthon; born April 2, 1955), formerly Princess Sirindhorn Debaratanasuda Kitivadhanadulsobhak (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าลูกเธอ เจ้าฟ้าสิรินธรเทพรัตนสุดา กิติวัฒนาดุลโสภาคย์; RTGS: Sirinthontheppharattanasuda Kitiwatthanadunlasophak), is the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and younger sister of King Vajiralongkorn.[1][a] Thais commonly refer to her as "Phra Thep" (Thai: พระเทพ), meaning "princess angel". Her title in Thai is the female equivalent of the title once held by her brother, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.[3] The Thai constitution was altered in 1974 to allow for female succession, thus making her eligible for the throne.[4] Having been the eldest female child of the royal family (excluding Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, who married a foreign commoner), her position is comparable to a princess royal.[5]
Sirindhorn was born on April 2, 1955, at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace, the third child of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. As the royal couple has only one son, the Thai constitution was altered in 1974 to allow for female succession. This made Sirindhorn second-in-line to the throne (after Vajiralongkorn) until the birth of Princess Bajrakitiyabha in 1978.
Sirindhorn attended Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary at Thailand's most exclusive school: The Chitralada School which was established for the children of the Royal Family and Palace staff.[6]
She ranked first in the National School Examinations in primary level (grade 7) in 1967, in upper secondary level (grade 12) in 1972, and fourth in the National University Entrance Examination in 1975.[7]
In 1975 she enrolled in the faculty of arts at Chulalongkorn University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, first-class honours and a gold medal in history in 1976.[7]
In 1981 she enrolled in a doctoral program at Srinakharinwirot University, and was awarded a PhD in developmental education in 1987.
In 1984 she earned a certificate from the Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Centre at the Asian Institute of Technology where she studied for two months.[9]
In December 2012, Sirindhorn was briefly hospitalised to remove calcium deposits.[11]
More popular among the Thai public than her brother Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, Sirindhorn was long rumored to be a potential successor to the Thai throne.[12] In the event, on Bhumibol's death in 2016, the crown went to Vajiralongkorn, now King Rama X. In 2019, she was bestowed the highest of royal ranks by appointment – "Krom Somdej Phra" by King Vajiralongkorn. She also received a first-class King Rama X Royal Cypher Medal.[13]
In January 2021, Sirindhorn was hospitalized after breaking both her ankles.[14] Thai media reported that she fell during a walk; however, Western sources alleged that her ankles were broken by Vajiralongkorn after an argument.[15]
Aside from her passion for technology, she holds degrees in history and a doctorate in educational development. She teaches at the history department of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, where she is the nominal head of the department. In addition to Thai, she speaks fluent English, French and Mandarin Chinese, and is currently studying German and Latin. She translates Chinese literature into Thai.[16]
She is also a skilled performer and avid promoter of Thai traditional music.
Like her father Bhumibol Adulyadej, Princess Sirindhorn holds a certificate as a radio amateur, with her call sign being HS1D.[17]
The University of Liverpool introduced a prestigious new scholarship in honour of Sirindhorn. One full scholarship will be awarded annually to enable a Thai student to study at Liverpool to complete a one-year taught Masters programme. The scholarship is open to all subjects in which a one-year taught Masters programme is offered; however, priority will be given to those students who wish to study in a subject area associated with Princess Sirindhorn such as science, information technology, medicine, the arts, geography, history, and languages. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a Thai national and already hold an offer to study a one-year taught Masters programme at the University of Liverpool.
UNESCO: UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for "Empowerment of Minority Children through Education and through the Preservation of Their Intangible Cultural Heritage"[33]
Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center at Mae Fah Luang University, which was a gift from China and named in honor of Sirindhorn's role in Thailand-China cultural exchange.[54]
^*From December 5, 1977, to May 5, 2019, her full ceremonial title was Somdech Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari[2] (Thai: สมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา เจ้าฟ้ามหาจักรีสิรินธร รัฐสีมาคุณากรปิยชาติ สยามบรมราชกุมารี; RTGS: Somdet Phra Theppharat Rat Suda Chao Fa Maha Chakkri Sirinthon Ratthasima Khunakon Piyachat Sayam Borommaratchakumari). After Vajiralongkorn's coronation, Sirindhorn was invested of the title Somdech Phra Kanishthadhiraj Chao Krom Somdech Phra Debaratnarajsuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Maha Vajiralongkorn Vorarajbhakti Sirikitchakarinibirayabadhana Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari (Thai: สมเด็จพระกนิษฐาธิราชเจ้า กรมสมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา เจ้าฟ้ามหาจักรีสิรินธร มหาวชิราลงกรณวรราชภักดี สิริกิจการิณีพีรยพัฒน รัฐสีมาคุณากรปิยชาติ สยามบรมราชกุมารี; RTGS: Somdet Phra Kanitthathirat Chao Krom Somdet Phra Theppharat Rat Suda Chao Fa Maha Chakkri Sirinthon Maha Wachiralongkon Woraratchaphakdi Siri Kitcha Karini Phirayaphat Ratthasima Khunakon Piyachat Sayam Borommaratchakumari).
^Weeyawat Jaitrong and Ted Schultz (2016). "Aenictus shilintongae sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dorylinae), An Army Ant of the Aenictus laeviceps Species Group from China". The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal. 10 (2): 67–74.
^Robin W. J. Ngiam and Albert G. Orr (2017). "Oligoaeschna sirindhornae sp. nov., A New Dragonfly Species from Thailand (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae)". Zootaxa. 4353 (1): 195–200. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4353.1.13. PMID29245533.
^Yukimitsu Imahara, Suchana Chavanich, Voranop Viyakarn, Yuka Kushida, James D. Reimer and Toshihiko Fujita (2020). "Two New Species of the Genus Chironephthya (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Nidaliidae, Siphonogorgiinae) from the Gulf of Thailand". Zootaxa. 4780 (2): 324–340. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4780.2.6. PMID33055747. S2CID219734609.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Austria: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria[23]
China: Recipient of the Order of Friendship[24]
Denmark: Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog[25]
India: Padma Bhushan[26]
South Korea: Grand Cross of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit[27]
Malaysia: Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia[28]
Mongolia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star[29]
Pakistan: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crescent of Pakistan[30][31]
Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic[32]
Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Seraphim
United Kingdom: Honorary Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Philippines: Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service[36]
Chiang Mai University: Geography[37]
Hong Kong – The University of Hong Kong: Doctor of Letters[40]
Japan – Tokai University: Engineering[42]
United States:
California – Pomona College: Doctor of Humane Letters[44]
Indiana – Indiana University Bloomington: Doctor of Humane Letters[45]
Illinois – Northern Illinois University: Doctor of Humane Letters[46]
Maryland – Johns Hopkins University: Doctor of Humane Letters[47]
Massachusetts – Bay Path University: Doctor of Humane Letters[48]
United Nations: Special Ambassador of the World Food Programme for School Feeding[33]
UNESCO: UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for "Empowerment of Minority Children through Education and through the Preservation of Their Intangible Cultural Heritage"[33]
Biography
Royalty
Monarchy
