Royal Profile: Princess Ubol Ratana of Thailand

Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Siri Madhanna of Thailand was born 5th April 1951 as the eldest daughter and the eldest child of King Rama IX of Thailand and Queen Sirikit, the Queen Regent of Thailand. in Switzerland. She was named for numerous ancestors:

  • Ubol Ratana: for her maternal grandmother
  • Siri: for her mother
  • Madhana: from her paternal great-grandmother


She has been an active Princess! La Poupée or Pée as she was called by her parents became active in the royal family from a young age. At the age of 16, she participated in the 4th SEA Games with her father, in sailing, where they both won gold medals.

Like her siblings, she has an extensive education. Her education credentials include: Chitralada School for her primary education, courses at MIT, an a BS in Biochemistry from UCLA, and a master's degree from UCLA.

While at M.I.T. she first met Peter Ladd Jensen, who she later married on 25 July 1972, they were divorced in 1998. Together, they have three children:
  • Ploypailin Jensen (1981)
  • Bhumi Jensen (1983-2004, had autism and was affectionately known as "Khun Poom", died in the 2004 Indiana Ocean earthquake and tsunami){Source}
  • Sirikitiaya Jensen (1985)


During her family's time in the US, her family made frequent visits to them, and they frequently went back to Thailand. She made a permanent return to Thailand in 2001. In 2007-2008, she appeared in and directed the Thai film, Where The Miracles Happens{Source}.


In 2019, it was announced Ubol Ratana would run as the prime ministerial candidate for the Thaksin-affiliated Thai Raksa Chart Party in the 2019 general election, called an "astonishing" move without precedent, as the royal family has never been directly involved in electoral politics {Source}. Her candidacy was quickly quashed by her brother, King Rama X, on the grounds that members of the royal family may not overtly participate in politics {Source} After his statement, the Thai Raksa Chart Party withdrew their support for her run {Source}. The Election Commission, citing the royal decree, disqualified her {Source}

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