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The Princess with King Rama VI on their wedding day, 12 January 1922 |
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1899-1961 |
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HM King Vajiravudh's first engagement was to HSH Princess (Mom Chao) Vallapadevi Voravarn, daughter of HRH Prince Naradhip Prapanpong, a well accepted poet and artist of the day. During the engagement, he met and became close to HSH Princess (Mom Chao) Varnbimol Voravarn, sister of his fiance. The king, being a poet and artist, changed her name to Mom Chao Laksami Lavan Voravarn. He kept his love a secret for 8 months, when could witheld it no longer. He then decreed a null to his first engagement, and promptly elevated Mom Chao Laksami Lavan to the rank of Pra Ong Chao, and became a Royal Highness, and married her in 1922. On 27 August 1922, the king held a celebration of his bestowment of the title of "Pra Nang Ther" to his wife, a title that is above that of a princess, but not yet quite a queen, of which I shall use the title of "Princess Consort." As much as he loved and adored her, the king's first priority was to produce an heir to the throne, and the princess was unable to do so. Another consort, Miss Prapai Sucharitkul, then became pregnant, which earned her the title of queen - Queen Indrasakdi Sachi. Sadly, the new queen lost her pregnancy 3 times. Meanwhile, Princess Laksami saw that her unability to produce an heir was infact her not being to do her full duty as Royal Consort, she thus "retired" and moved to a simpler life outside the Royal Court. She moved to a small palace and lived her life as a poet and writing plays for the theatre, a gift that she inherited from her father, which was supported by her ex-husband, the king.
After the king's death in 1925, she lived virtually alone with hardly a royal servant that were once in abundant when she was a Royal Consort. After the war, she received some money that was left to her by the king, and moved to another palace, Laksami Vilas Villa, on Sri Ayudhya Road. She became a noted writer, and translated many Western books under the name "Patama Varnpimol." Near the end of her life, she became a little sad with life and scolded the new generations for their modern behaviour that were seen by her generation as un-Siamese. Although extremely lonely, she tried to live her life in the ways that she thought best, and held her head high. She then became a virtual recluse in her palace, declining to receive any guests.
Princess Laksami was murdered by her gardener at her villa, who wanted to steal her wealth that was left by the king, on 29 August 1961. She was 62 years old. |
