Royal Profile: King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun of Thailand

King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun was born 28 July 1952 the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit.

 

He had a worldly education, spending his primary years in Thailand, before moving on to England and Australia for his upper educational studies. The Prince undertook military training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, Australia, and also completed an arts degree at Sukhothai Thammatirat University in Bangkok. He also took a period of time as a Buddhist monk {Source}.

 

In 1977, he married his maternal first cousin Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara {Source} , a year later his first child was born {Source}. He and Princess Soamsvali Kitiyakara were divorced sometime in the 1980s {Source}. His second marriage produced four illegitimate children as they were born prior to the 1994 marriage {Source}. In 2001, he married again, to HRH Princess Srirasmi, who has since given him a son {Source}.

 

His children are:

 

1. Princess Bajrakitiyabha (1978)
2. Prince Juthavachara Mahidol(1979)
3. Prince Vacharaesorn Mahidol (1981)
4. Prince Chakriwat Mahidol (1983)
5. Prince Vatcharawee Mahidol (1985)
6. Princess Siriwanwari Nariratana (1987)
7. Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (2005)

 

 

On 3 January 1977, Vajiralongkorn married, a first cousin on his mother's side. They had one daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha in 1978. Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn started living with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth in the late 1970s and had five children with her. Although Princess Soamsavali had refused divorce for many years, Vajiralongkorn was finally able to sue for divorce in the Family Court in January 1993. In the court proceedings, Vajiralongkorn accused Princess Soamsavali of being completely at fault for the failed relationship. She was not able to refute the charges due to the prohibition against lèse majesté. The divorce was finalized in July 1993. Princess Soamsavali and her daughter continue to play a significant role in royal ceremonies.