Srirasmi Suwadee

Than Phu Ying
Srirasmi Suwadee
PChW MPCh MWM

Srirasmi in 2007
Born (1971-12-09) 9 December 1971
Samut Songkhram, Thailand
Religion Buddhism[1]
Spouse(s) Vajiralongkorn
(m. 2001; div. 2014)
Children Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
Parent(s) Aphirut Suwadee (father)
Wanthanee Koet-amphaeng (mother)

Than Phu Ying Srirasmi Suwadee (Thai: ศรีรัศมิ์ สุวะดี;[2] rtgs: Sirat Suwadi; born 9 December 1971), formerly Princess Srirasm, Royal Consort to the Crown Prince of Thailand,[3] is a former member of the royal family of Thailand. She was the third consort of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn from 2001 to 2014. Born to a family of modest means, Srirasmi entered the service of the Crown Prince at the age of 22. She married the crown prince in February 2001 and divorced in December 2014.[4]

Early life

Srirasmi Suwadee was born in Samut Songkhram Province[5] to a family of modest means. She was the third child of Aphirut and Wanthanee Suwadee. She has four siblings.[6] and has Mon descent from her mother side.[7]

She attended college at Bangkok Business College and in 1993, at age 22, entered the service of Vajiralongkorn as a "lady-in-waiting". Srirasmi enrolled in Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in 1997 and graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in management science. Vajiralongkorn personally bestowed her with her diploma. In 2007 she received a Master of Arts degree in Home Economics from Kasetsart University.

Marriage and family

Srirasmi married the Crown Prince of Thailand on 10 February 2001 in a private ceremony at the prince's Nonthaburi Palace. The public was informed of the event some time afterwards. The prince, who had married twice before and has children with his previous wives, stated it was his intention to settle down: "I am now 50 years old and think I should have a complete family."[5] After the wedding, Srirasmi was styled Mom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayudhya (Mahidol is the surname of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and King Ananda Mahidol, and the na Ayudhya designation signifies non-titled descendants of the Chakri Dynasty and their spouses.

On 14 February 2005, it was announced that Srirasmi was pregnant. On 29 April 2005, a son named Dipangkorn Rasmijoti was born via caesarean section at Siriraj Hospital. Because of the birth, she was granted by King Bhumibol Adulyadej the title "princess of Thailand" and style "Her Royal Highness" as the royal consort of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. A royal ceremony, called "Phra Ratchaphithi Somphot Duean Lae Khuen Phra U," to celebrate the first month of the baby was held on 17 June 2005 at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok.[8]

Srirasm's only child, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, on poster promoting mother's breast milk

Srirasmi initiated and launched the "Sai Yai Rak Chak Mae Su Luk" (Love and care from mother to children) campaign which promoted breast feeding.[9][10] The campaign features images of her son.

In November 2009, a home video was released showing Vajiralongkorn and a topless Srirasmi celebrating the birthday of the prince's poodle dog. The media reported that this was indicative of the couple's decadent lifestyle.[11]

Divorce and loss of title

A letter asking for Srirasmi's family to be stripped of their royal name was sent to the interior ministry in November 2014. The letter was sent by her husband, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, after allegations of corruption against seven of her relatives.[12] On 11 December 2014, the Royal Thai Government Gazette announced that Srirasmi relinquished her royal title, presumably due to the corruption affairs that involved her family.[13] Srirasmi was granted a payment of 200 million baht (US$6 million) by Maha Vajiralongkorn in exchange for her relinquishment.[14] The money was paid out of the Crown Property Bureau, as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance.[15] On 9 March 2015, a court sentenced her father Apiruj Suwadee and mother Wanthanee for lodging a slander claim and asking authorities to file false charges against their neighbour in 2003. They pleaded guilty to the offenses and were sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Titles

Royal cypher of Srirasmi
Styles of
Princess Srirasm of Thailand
(2005–2014)
Reference style Her Royal Highness
Spoken style Your Royal Highness
Alternative style Madam

Royal decorations

References

  1. Princess Srirasm with Dharma (Thai)
  2. "ย้อนรำลึกภารกิจ 'ท่านผู้หญิงศรีรัศมิ์ สุวะดี'". ThaiRath. 16 December 2014.
  3. "The Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, Thailand". The Thai Monarchy (in Thai). Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  4. มีพระบรมราชานุญาตให้ พระองค์เจ้าศรีรัศมิ์ฯ ลาออกจากฐานันดรศักดิ์ แห่งพระราชวงศ์. Thairath (in Thai). 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Simplicity, warmth win hearts". The Nation (Thailand). 30 April 2005. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  6. Siam Thurakit newspaper, สายธารอันยิ่งใหญ่แห่งเจ้าชายน้อย, 16 สิงหาคม พ.ศ.2549 (Thai)
  7. รอยทาง 'สุวะดี' แห่งแม่กลอง และ 'เกิดอำแพง' แห่งท่าจีน (in Thai). Nation (Thailand). 19 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  8. "พระราชพิธีสมโภชเดือนและขึ้นพระอู่ พระเจ้าหลานเธอ พระองค์เจ้าทีปังกรรัศมีโชติ" (Thai). Thai News
  9. "A chronicle of a Prince", The Nation
    "The Royal Family and people across the entire Kingdom yesterday celebrated the first birthday of HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, the son of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.", The Nation via Thai Parliament web.
  10. "Princess visits family project". The Nation. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  11. Graham, Caroline. "How future queen of Thailand (wearing only a tiny G-string) let her poodle Foo Foo eat cake: As coup rocks Bangkok, video reveals royal couple's decadent lifestyle". Daily Mail. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  12. "Thailand crown prince strips wife's family of royal name". BBC News. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014. It comes after seven of her close relatives were arrested in a purge of officials allegedly involved in corruption.
  13. "Thai princess gives up royal title". The Guardian. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  14. พระมหากรุณาธิคุณ พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว. Thai Rath (in Thai). 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  15. กระทรวงการคลัง (15 December 2014). "ข่าวที่ 106/2557 การชี้แจงของรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงการคลัง ในฐานะประธานกรรมการทรัพย์สินส่วนพระมหากษัตริย์ กรณีการพระราชทานเงินให้ท่านผู้หญิงศรีรัศม์ สุวะดี" (PDF).

External links

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