Who is Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn? With renewed interest in Thailand’s Princess Royal, the Royal News Organisation looks at the life of the hardest-working member of the Thai royal family.
Princess Sirinhorn (Somdetch Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn) was born on 2 April, 1955 at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall within Dusit Palace in Bangkok. The Princess, who is the third child and second daughter of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and the late Queen Sirikit, would later be known as Phra Thep — the “Angel Princess”.
Her Royal Highness began schooling at the Chitralada School, a private institution founded by King Rama IX in January 1955 for Royal Children and palace staff, in Dusit Palace at age three. The school was first a kindergarten situated within the Amporn Sathan Residential Hall for her sister, Princess Ubolratana, and seven other children who were all its initial students. In 1957, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, coinciding with the move of the principal Royal Residence from Amporn Sathan Residential Hall to Chitralada Villa, moved the kindergarten as well and gave it a new name, “The Chitralada School”.
Sirindhorn completed her primary and secondary schooling at the institution founded by her father. It was said that the Princess began her scholarly aptitude at Chitralada, which has continued throughout her life. After finishing her high school education, Sirindhorn, who ranked number one in the National School Examinations and fourth in the National University Entrance Examination, enrolled in the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University. She graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts, First Class, with a Gold Medal in history. She then concurrently obtained a Master of Arts in Oriental Epigraphy (Sanskrit and Cambodian) from Silpakorn University in 1978, as well as a Master of Arts in Pali and Sanskrit from Chulalongkorn in 1980. Some of her studies were interrupted to undertake engagements in support of her parents, King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.
One of her longest appointments has been as the Executive Vice President of the Thai Red Cross Society, a post which she has held for almost half a decade, starting in 1977.
1977 was also a very significant year in Princess Sirindhorn’s life. That year marked the 50th birthday of her father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On the occasion, His late Majesty honoured Sirindhorn with a very special designation. The King conferred the titles of ‘Somdej Phra’, the highest rank of Thai Princes or Princesses, and the appellation ‘Maha Chakri’, which can be translated to ‘The Great Chakri’, upon Princess Sirindhorn. The current Thai Royal Family are members of the Chakri Dynasty, which dates back to its creation under King Rama I in the 1780s, with Sirindhorn’s father as the ninth monarch of the dynasty and her brother later becoming the tenth, respectively.
While the title of “Princess Royal” had already been used in France and, more well-known, in the United Kingdom, Sirindhorn became the first Princess Royal in Thai history. A special distinction that is usually reserved for the monarch’s eldest child.
The Princess is known for her passion for technology and innovation as well as her care for the young impoverished population in Thailand. In 1979, the Princess Maha Chakri Foundation was established to support schools as well as upper institutions and vocational colleges.
Enrolment in a Doctor of Education programme at Srinakarinwirot University in 1981 saw the Princess graduate with an inter-disciplinary degree for her professional development in 1987. Before this, Sirindhorn began a teaching career as a lecturer at the Department of Law and Social Sciences in the Academic Division of Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA). When the CRMA’s Department of History was established, the Princess Royal began serving as its Head Director.
During her upbringing, Sirindhorn frequently accompanied her parents, the King and Queen, on visits to rural and underdeveloped areas of Thailand, often acting as Private Secretary to King Bhumibol. It was during this time that she saw the life-changing impact which the royal family could have on thousands of children and young people. During the visits, the family would not only bring doctors, nurses and dentists to treat locals but would also take some of the most severe cases under their royal patronage and back to Bangkok for medical treatment.
In 1983, King Bhumibol Adulyadej appointed the Princess Royal as the Chief Executive of the Chitralada School, her former primary and secondary school.
A few other passions that Sirindhorn is known for are her involvement in literature, including being a devout poet, traditional Thai music and dance, sports, as well as being an avid artist. She is known to be fluent in English, French, and Mandarin Chinese, as well as having studied German and Latin for a period of time. The Princess’s inquisitive mind led her to come up with the idea of having a book of aerial and satellite images of Thailand which the public would use for educational purposes. The idea was acted on with “Thailand from Space” published in April 1991 on the occasion of Sirindhorn’s 36th birthday, in commemoration of the Princess’s “untiring efforts and initiative in the applications of satellite images for natural and environmental resource survey.” As the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Restoration of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in 1982, the Princess was personally responsible for every aspect of the restoration works, which included artistic undertakings as well as engineering and architecture aspects.
On the diplomatic side, Princess Sirindhorn, who is known worldwide for her diplomacy, has been a longtime friend of China with over 50 visits to the country starting around 1981. Her work to foster relationships between the two countries has earned her the Chinese Medal of Friendship, which was personally presented to the Princess by President Xi Jinping in 2019.
Throughout the later part of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s reign, she was frequently at her father’s side as physical support, but also emotionally and mentally. Many believed she may succeed her father after his passing, given how revered she is. That day fell on Thursday, 13 October, when King Bhumibol Adulyadej died at Siriraj Hospital surrounded by the royal family after reigning for 70 years and 126 days.
Princess Sirindhorn held a prominent position during the mourning period which followed, presiding over many of the funeral services and rehearsals over the year. Her father’s Royal Cremation Ceremony was held from 25 to 29 October 2017.
The Princess Royal has continued to be the ‘hardest working’ member of the Royal Family in undertaking many official visits abroad, daily engagements around Thailand, presiding over and personally handing out degrees at universities, and presiding over government and state functions.
Following the death of her mother, Queen Sirikit, Princess Sirinhorn was appointed as advisor for the Royal Cremation Ceremony, which is expected to be held in late 2026. However, plans for the cremation of Queen Sirikit may be altered following the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha in June.
Thailand’s Princess Royal is a scholarly humanitarian who is devoted to education and the preservation of Thai culture.
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