Sirindhorn

Sirindhorn
Princess Maha Chakri
Princess Sirindhorn in 2009
House	House of Mahidol Chakri Dynasty
Father	King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (Rama IX)
Mother	Queen Sirikit of Thailand
Born	(1955-04-02) April 2, 1955 Bangkok, Thailand
Religion	Buddhism

Thai Royal Family
HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Crown Prince HRH Princess Srirasm HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak HRH Princess Siribhachudhabhorn HRH Princess Adityadhornkitikhun Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Khun Ploypailin Jensen Khun Sirikitiya Jensen HRH Princess Soamsawali Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (Thai: มหาจักรีสิรินธร, Thai pronunciation: [má.hǎː .ʨàk.krīː.sì.rīn.tʰɔːn]; RTGS: Maha Chakkri Sirinthon; born April 2, 1955) is the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Her full ceremonial title is “Somdet Phra Theppharatratsuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Ratthasimakhunakonpiyachat Sayamborommaratchakumari” (สมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา เจ้าฟ้ามหาจักรีสิรินธร รัฐสีมาคุณากรปิยชาติ สยามบรมราชกุมารี), which was bestowned upon her on December 5, 1977. Thais commonly refer to her by reducing such title to “Phra Thep”, meaning “princess angel”.

Her title in Thai is the female equivalent of the title held by her brother, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The Thai constitution was altered in 1974 to allow for female succession, thus making her eligible for the throne. As the eldest female child of the royal family (excluding Ubol Ratana, who married a foreign commoner), her position is equivalent to a princess royal.

Biography

Sirindhorn, born April 2, 1955, is the third child of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. Because 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. Air Chief Marshall Siddhi Savetsila, a member of the privy council, told a former U.S. ambassador in early 2010 that Sirindhorn could be named successor in the event of Vajiralongkorn's death, i.e. the crown prince's children, including Prince Dipangkorn, might be passed over. The privy council will submit the name of a successor when the throne becomes vacant.

In December 2012, Sirindhorn was briefly hospitalised to have calcium deposits removed from her chest.

Education

Sirindhorn attended kindergarten to upper secondary levels at Chitralada School. She ranked first in the National School Examinations in the primary level (grade 7) in 1967, first in upper secondary level (grade 12) in 1972 and fourth in the National University Entrance Examination.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History (First Class Honor, Gold Medal) from Chulalongkorn University in 1976, and a Master of Arts in Oriental Epigraphy (Sanskrit and Cambodian) from Silpakorn University in 1978 with the thesis entitled 'The Inscriptions Found at Prasad Bnam Run (Prasat Phnom Rung)'. She also obtained a Master of Arts in Pali and Sanskrit from Chulalongkorn University in 1980 with the thesis entitled 'Dasapāramī in Theravada Buddhism'.

She was awarded a PhD in educational development from Srinakharinwirot University in 1986 with a thesis entitled 'Development of an Innovative Design for the Instruction of Thai Language at the Upper Secondary School Level'.

Works

In Thailand, she is often referred to as the "Princess of Technology" or the "Princess of Information Technology", due to her interest and expertise in applying science for the country's development.

Besides her passion for technology, she holds degrees in history and a doctorate in Educational Development. In addition to Thai she speaks fluent English, French and Chinese and is currently studying German and Latin. Sirindhorn has a very good background in Chinese culture, as well as other oriental cultures. In recent years she has paid many visits to China, both officially and privately, for her studies of the Chinese language and culture. An accomplished musician, she plays the trumpet and several Thai traditional instruments, including the ranat (xylophone) and saw duang. She also teaches at the History Department of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, where she is the nominal head of the department.

Titles and styles

Royal cypher of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

Styles of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand
Reference style	Her Royal Highness
Spoken style	Your Royal Highness
Alternative style	Ma'am

• April 2, 1955 – December 5, 1977: Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn Debaratanasuda
• December 5, 1977 – : Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

The Princess's style and title in full: Somdech Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari (Thai: สมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา เจ้าฟ้ามหาจักรีสิรินธร รัฐสีมาคุณากรปิยชาติ สยามบรมราชกุมารี; is equivalent to the British title of The Princess Royal)

Thai Royal Decorations

• The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri
• The Ancient and Auspicious of Order of the Nine Gems
• Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
• Dame Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
• Dame Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
• Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn
• Freeman Safeguarding Medal (First Class)
• Dushdi Mala Medal in Humanities
• The Border Service Medal
• Chakra Mala Medal
• The Boy Scout Citation Medal (First Class)
• King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
• King Rama IX Rajaruchi Medal (Gold Class)
• Red Cross Medal of Appreciation (First Class)

Foreign Decorations

• Korea: Grand Gwanghwa Medal (First Class) of Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, 1981
• Germany: Grand Cross 1st Class of The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1984
• Nepal: the Most Glorious Order of Ojaswi Rajanya, 1984
• Spain: Knight Grand Cross of The Order of Isabella the Catholic, 1987
• France: Commander of Ordre des Palmes Academiques, 1989
• Brunei: the Most Esteemed Royal Family Order Seri Utama of Brunei, 1990
• Laos: National Gold Medal, 1991
• Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown, 1991
• Denmark: Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog, 2001
• Commonwealth realms: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 1996
• Austria: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash (Second Class) for Services to the Republic of Austria (2004)
• Sweden: Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim, 2003
• Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown, 2003
• Tonga: Grand Collar of the Royal Order of Pouono, 2006
• Mongolia: The Order of the Polar Star of Mongolia, 2009
• Malaysia: Grand Commander of The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia, 2009
• Pakistan: Hilal-e-Pakistan, 2012

External links

• Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Personal Affairs Division
• "Biography of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn", at Kanchanapisek Network
• Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Thai Heritage Conservation
• The Forest Herbarium
• Scholarship Website Information

References

Sirindhorn House of Chakri Born: April 2 1955
Thai royalty
Preceded by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana	Line of succession to the Thai throne 5th position	Succeeded by Princess Chulabhorn Walailak