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1883-1920 |
His Royal Highness Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, Prince
of Bisnulok, was born on 3 March 1883, 40th child of His Majesty King Rama
V and 4th child of Her Majesty Queen Sri Bajarindra. He was educated
in the Royal Palace, and then was sent to England. During King Chulalongkorn's
visit to Russia, His Imperial Majesty the Tzar Nicolas II of Russia, a
close friend of King Rama V, invited the king to send a son to be educated
in mighty Russia, under the care of the Tzar. Prince Chakrabongse
was chosen and soon, after learning Russian in England, he went to Russia.
He was looked after by the Tzar much like another son, and was given a room at Tsarskoye Selo. He finally became a Colonel in the Hussar Regiment of Emperor Nicholas
II of Russia.
The prince was known as a favourite son of both the King and Queen. He represented his father on many foreign visits, such as to the wedding of Crown Prince Wilhelm and Crown Princess Cecilie of Prussia, the funeral of King Umberto I of Italy, and the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary of Great Britain. The Prince of Bisnulok was a member of the Privy Council to King Rama V and VI, Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Siamese Army, Minister of War, and Heir Presumptive to the Throne during King Vajiravudh's reign. Today, he is respected as the "Father of the Royal Thai Air Force". He was married in Constantinople, to Mom Catherine Chakrabongse Na Ayutthaya (nee Ekaterina Desnitskaya), a Russian. His only child was HRH Prince Chula Chakrabongse. Prince Chakrabongse died in 1920 at a young age of 37. |
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Prince Chula Chakrabongse was born on 28 March 1908, and was the first grandchild of The Queen Regent Sri Bajarindra. He was sent to England for his education, first attending Harrow and then Trinity College, Cambridge. He later married Elizabeth Hunter, who became Mom Elizabeth Chakrabongse Na Ayudhya. The prince represented Their Majesties Kings Rama VII, VIII and IX on many occasions, notably the funeral of King Albert I of Belgium in 1934, the funeral of King George V of Great Britain and the Coronation of King George VI, as well as the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The prince was also known for his White Mouse racing team, featuring his cousin Prince Birabongse Banudej as his driver, and together they made Siam famous in the motor racing world. Prince Chula died of cancer on 30 December 1963, aged only 55 years old. พระเจ้าวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าจุลจักรพงษ์ Prince Chula Chakrabongse's only daughter is Mom Rajawongse Narisa Chakrabongse, owner of River Books, producing many books on Thailand. One famous book is The Royal Family of Thailand which chronicals the descendants of King Rama V, and is regarded a the bible of Thailand's Royal Family. Another books is Katya and the Prince of Siam, which tells the story of Prince Chakrabongse and Mom Catherine, and gives the reader a glimpse into life in Siam and Russia back then.
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