Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda ( th, เพชรรัตนราชสุดา; ; , 24 November 1925 – 27 July 2011) was the only child of the King Vajiravudh of

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

. She was a first cousin of King

Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...

and third cousin of King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia on her maternal side. Her funeral was held on 9 April 2012, at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in Bangkok.

Biography

Princess Bejaratana was born on 24 November 1925 in the Grand Palace, Bangkok, the only child of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) and Princess Suvadhana. Having seen his daughter only one time, the king died the following day. Her uncle, who became King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), performed the naming ceremony for the princess on 30 December. Princess Bejaratana and her mother moved to Suan Hongsa Villa in Dusit Palace, where she received her education from a private tutor. They moved in with Queen Sri Savarindira (the Queen Dowager) during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, and the princess attended Rajani School until she was 12. She and her mother then moved to England, where she continued her education and took medication for her poor health. She first stayed at Fairhill Villa in Surrey, before settling in Brighton. In November 1957, Princess Bejaratana returned to Thailand. She bought land on Sukhumvit Road Soi 38, and built Ruenruedi Villa Palace. The princess undertook her duties of representing the royal family. Her special interests were in education, public health, Buddhism, the soldiers and police guarding Thailand's borders, and general public welfare. Near the end of her life she reduced her royal duties due to age, but occasionally still did work relating to her royal father. Princess Bejaratana died on 27 July 2011 at 16:37 at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, aged 85.

Military rank

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

, Admiral and Air Chief MarshalRatchakitcha
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Ancestry

References

External links

http://www.puendee.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=468

Bejaratana-Suvadhana Foundation

Biography and appearance of Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda – Sakulthai Magazine

Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda of Thailand – Sakulthai Magazine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bejaratana 1925 births 2011 deaths 20th-century Thai women 20th-century Chakri dynasty 21st-century Thai women 21st-century Chakri dynasty Thai female Chao Fa Knights Grand Cordon of the Order of Chula Chom Klao Knights of the Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit Members of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn Thai people of Khmer descent Thai military personnel Royal Thai Army personnel Thai generals Royal Thai Navy personnel Thai admirals Royal Thai Air Force personnel Royal Thai Air Force air marshals