Varananda Dhavaj

Varananda Dhavaj
Varananda Dhavaj
Born	August 19, 1922; Bangkok, Siam
Died	14 September 1990 (aged 68); Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse	Pamela Smee; Galyani Vadhana Mahidol; Kokeaw Prakaykavil na Chiengmai; Srisalai Suchatwut
Issue	Dilok Nicholas Chudadhuj; Dara Jane Chudadhuj
House	House of Chudadhuj; Chakri Dynasty
Father	Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok
Mother	Ravi Kayananda

Prince Varananda Dhavaj (Thai: วรานนท์ธวัช; RTGS: Waranonthawat), born Mom Chao Varananda Dhavaj Chudadhuj (Thai: วรานนท์ธวัช จุฑาธุช; RTGS: Waranonthawat Chuthathut; August 19, 1922 – September 14, 1990) was the son of Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok and Mom Ravi Kayananda. Although he was the only son of a senior Thai prince, he was disqualified from succession to the throne because his mother was not Prince Chudadhut's formal wife.

Following the death of his father, the prince was raised by his uncle King Prajadhipok. He joined the monarch in virtual exile in England. He enlisted in the RAF on February 24, 1942 under the name Nicky Varanand, and served as pilot in the Normandy campaign during World War II. He would serve at total of 15 years in the RAF, finally resigning as a group captain to fly commercial aircraft for Thai Airways International. He later created his own airline, Air Siam, which went bankrupt in 1977. In 1973, he also became an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Marriage and family

He married Mom Pamela Smee on June 10, 1950. Two children were born from this union:

Mom Rajawongse Dilok Nicholas Chudadhuj (1953). Married Jane Bishop and Chulalaxana Chudadhuj has issue.
Mom Rajawongse Dara Jane Chudadhuj (1956)

On September 24, 1969, he married his cousin Princess Galyani Vadhana, King Bhumibol's eldest sister. and had two concubine, Princess Kokeaw Prakaykavil na Chiengmai and Srisalai Suchatwut.

References

This Thai biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.