Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother - Biography

H.R.H.the Princess Mother in 1920

Her Royal Highness Sangwan the Princess Mother ,was born on 21 October 1900 to a family of goldsmiths. She lost her parents at an early age and after their death was brought up under the patronage of H.R.HPrincess Valai Alongkorn of Petchburi ,the daughter of Her Majesties The King Rama V and Savang Vadhana.

The Princess Mother attended the Siriraj Hospital Nursing School for 3 years,Where at the time , and for many years to come , she was thr youngest graduate of the school . In 1917 she was granted a scholarship to contonue her studies in the United States of America . H.R.H.Prince Mahodol of Songkla , the youngest brother of Princess Valai ,was studying medicine at Harvard University ,Cambridge ,and it was there ,in the United States ,that the student nurse first met the Prince.

H.R.H.the Princess Mother with H.R.H.Mahidol of Songkla

In 1919 Prince Mahidol of Songkla and Miss Sangwan(H.R.H.the Princess Mother) became engaged to be married and returned to Bangkok a year later for the Royal Wedding Ceremony at Srapatum Palace on September 10, 1920 presided over by H.M.King Rama VI.

H.R.H.the Princess Mother with her 3 children (H.R.H.Princess Galayani Vadhana,H.M.King Ananda Mahidol and H .M.Bhumipol Adulayadej in 1935)

The royal couple's first child , Princess Galayani Vadhana , was born in 1923 , while they were residing in England.

Intending to continue his medical studies , and because of his own frail health,Prince Mahidol took his family to Germany in 1925 , and their second child ,Prince Ananda Mahidol ( later to become King RAma VIII) was born in Heidelberg late that year.

Niot long afterwards , the family moved to the United States of America,so that Prince Mahidol could further his studies at Harvard University ,which in 1927 award him a medical degree with honours. In the same year ,Princer Bhumipol Adulyadej (later to become King IX) was born ,before the family returned to Thailand in 1928.

Prince Mahidol was determined to establish a modern system of medicine and public health in Thailand , but his dedication and effort towards this ambition took their toll on his own personal health ,which deteriorated rapidly . He passed away in 1929 , leaving the Princess Mother ,aged only 29 ,alone to bring up the royal children ,who were then aged 6 , 4 and 2 .

In March 1934 ,King Rama VII decided to abdicate , and the government requested Prince Ananda Mahidol to ascend to the throne . However the young prince was only 9 years of age at the time ,and residing with his mother in Lausanne . The Princess Mother then took on the responsibility od raising a young King.

Sadly . shortly after his return to Thailand and his coronation ,King Ananda Mahidol unexpectedly passed away on June 9,1946 . The crown was then passed to his younger brother ,Prince Bhumipol Adulyadej , who was then aged 18 . The Princess Mother was then obliged to accompany her second son ,back to Lausanne to finish his studies .

H.M.King Bhumipol Adulyadej returned to Thailand a few years later . and presided over the Royal Cremation Ceremony of his elder brother . In April 1950 , King Rama IX was married in a Royal Wedding Ceremony , which took place one week before his Coronation in May . From that point onwards , The Princess Mother increasingly turned her interest and attention to the education and health of poor rural people in remote villages .