H.R.H. Prince Edward Taw Phaya is the Pretender to the Peacock Throne of Burma He was born the second son of Princess Myat Phaya, his older brother being assassinated by Communist insurgents in 1947. Edward Taw Phaya, known as Taw Phaya, was born 22nd March 1924 in Burma. He married 4th May 1944, Princess (Hteik Su) Gyi Phaya Rita (b. 20h May 1924), daughter of Prince Kadow Gyi Naing, by his wife, H.R.H. Princess Myat Phaya, third daughter of H.M. Hpondawgyi Hla-thaw Hpaya Shwe Nanshin Hpaya Hsinbyushin Sri Pawara Aditya Lawka Vijaya Nandaratta Tilaka Adipati Pandita Maha Dharma Rajadhiraja Thibaw Min Thaya Gyi, King of Burma. With the death of his mother in 1962 he became the senior member of the Royal Household.

He was interviewed in 2008 where he stated he was the only surviving grandson of King Thibaw Min. Regarding his propects for regaining the throne he said:

Blockquote"I'd be mad to want to become a king now. With these chaps, I don't think I'd get very far."/blockquote

He has issue, five sons and two daughters:

• Richard Taw Phaya Myat Gyi (born 14th May 1945), Heir and second in line to the throne.
• David Taw Phaya Myat (born 1st April 1947)
• Edward Taw Phaya Myat Nge (born 27th April 1948, died 14th November 1955)
• Joseph Taw Phaya Myat Aye (born 19th March 1950)
• Paul Taw Phaya Myat Thaike (b. 19th February 1954)
• Ann-Marie Su Phaya Lay (10th September 1952)
• Rose-Marie Su Phaya Naing (born 21st April 1956)

Sources

• http://www.royalark.net/Burma/konbau19.htm
• http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=10781