Bajrakitiyabha
Princess Rajasarini Siribajra
Princess Bajrakitiyabha in 2013
Born (1978-12-07) 7 December 1978 (age 45)
Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Names
Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati
HouseMahidol (Chakri dynasty)
FatherVajiralongkorn (Rama X)
MotherPrincess Soamsawali
ReligionTheravada Buddhism
Occupation
  • Diplomat
  • attorney
SignatureBajrakitiyabha's signature
Styles of
Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand
Reference styleHer Royal Highness
Spoken styleYour Royal Highness

Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the Princess Rajasarini Siribajra (Thai: พัชรกิติยาภา นเรนทิราเทพยวดี, RTGS: Phatchara Kitiyapha Narenthira Thepphayawadi, also known as Princess Bha[1] or Patty,[2] born 7 December 1978) is a Thai princess and diplomat of Thailand, the first grandchild of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit of Thailand, and the only one of the seven children of King Maha Vajiralongkorn born to his first wife Princess Soamsawali.

In December 2022, Bajrakitiyabha collapsed as a result of a heart condition while out walking her dogs. As of February 2024, she is in a coma.

Early life and education

Princess Bajrakitiyabha at Headquarters of the United Nations in 2010
Emblem of the House of Chakri

The King
The Queen

The Queen Mother

Princess Bajrakitiyabha was born on 7 December 1978 at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace in Bangkok. She is the eldest child and first daughter of Vajiralongkorn and his first wife princess Soamsawali. She studied at the all-girls Rajini School when she was in elementary and junior high school. She moved to England and began her secondary education first at Heathfield School in Ascot,[3] finishing at the Chitralada School.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha received an LL.B. degree from Thammasat University, as well as a B.A. degree in International Relations from Sukhothai Thammatirat University, both in 2000. She subsequently obtained an LL.M. degree from Cornell Law School in 2002 and a J.S.D. degree from Cornell University in 2005.[2][4]

On 12 May 2012, she was awarded an honorary LL.D. degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.[5]

Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the only child given the title of Kromma Luang, the 3rd level of the Krom ranks by her father. She was the Princess Rajasarini Siribajra (Krom Luang Rajasarini Siribajra).[6]

Career

In 2002, she was a summer legal intern at Baker McKenzie's Washington, D.C. office.[7] On completion of her legal education Princess Bajrakitiyabha worked briefly at the Thai Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in New York, before returning to Thailand. In September 2006, she was appointed Attorney in the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok, and was then appointed to Office of the Attorney General of Udon Thani Province.[8]

From 2012 to 2014, she was the Thai ambassador to Austria, until she returned to a post at the Office of the Attorney General.

The Coronation of her father, King Rama X, where she is present in the parade

On 3 February 2021, the princess was transferred from her position as an attorney in the Office of the Attorney General to the Royal Security Command in the position of Chief of Staff of The King's Close Bodyguard Command and bestowed the rank of general.[9][10]

Work on women in the penal system

The princess was instrumental in prodding the Thai government to submit a resolution to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social Council, that detailed the vulnerability of women incarcerated in a system built principally for men. Her efforts were to lead to the UN adoption of the "Bangkok Rules",[11] the first set of universal guidelines addressing the treatment of women in the justice system.[12]

Bajrakitiyabha runs the "Kamlangjai" or "Inspire" project, which reaches out to incarcerated Thai women including pregnant inmates and their babies, and intends to assure those female and pregnant inmates are given adequate assistance to prepare them to reenter society upon release.[13][14] She is also working on "Enhancing lives of Female Inmates" (ELFI), a project which proposes new rules for the treatment of women prisoners and non-custodial measures for women offenders as a supplement to the 1955 Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners[15]

Health

In December 2022, the Bureau of the Royal Household announced that the Princess had been hospitalised following a collapse while out walking her dogs on 14 December.[16] The palace confirmed that it was due to a heart condition.[17] She had been training her dogs for the Thailand Working Dog Championship 2022 organised by the Royal Thai Army.[18]

The princess was initially taken to Pak Chong Nana Hospital and then transferred to the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.[19] As of February 2024, she is reported to remain in a coma with no information on any possible recovery.[20]

Honours and symbols

Thai Royal decorations

Foreign honour

Symbols

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ Kelliher, Fiona (20 December 2022). "Who is Princess Bha? Thailand's presumed royal heir is lying in hospital". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Commencement 2005: Cell phones, cameras, congratulations, challenges and a princess". Cornell University News Service. 29 May 2005. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  3. ^ Turner, Paige. "5 things to know about Princess Bajrakitiyabha, daughter of Thai King Vajiralongkorn and his first wife Princess Soamsawali". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  4. ^ CURRICULUM VITAE Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand- website Thailand Institute of Justice Archived 20 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand and ABA President-elect Laurel G. Bellows to address 2012 IIT Chicago-Kent graduates". Kentlaw.iit.edu. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  6. ^ พระประวัติสมเด็จพระเจ้าลูกเธอ เจ้าฟ้าพัชรกิติยาภา ฯ
  7. ^ Grove, Lloyd (29 May 2002). "Hey, Princess, Where's That Legal Brief?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Hrh Princess Bajrakitiyabha Will Serve As Attorney Of The Office Of The Attorney-general". Thaivisa.com. 21 August 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  9. ^ "พระบรมราชโองการ โปรดเกล้าฯ "พลเอกหญิงสมเด็จพระเจ้าลูกเธอ เจ้าฟ้าพัชรกิติยาภาฯ" ทรงโอนย้าย ดำรงตำแหน่ง "เสนาธิการ"".
  10. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯ พระราชทานพระยศ เจ้าฟ้าพัชรกิติยาภาฯ เป็น พลเอกหญิง พร้อมรับโอนจากอัยการ".
  11. ^ "The Bangkok Rules; United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders with their Commentary" (PDF). UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Dialogue—Issue 43: Bangkok Rules Address the Plight of Women in Prison". Dui Hua. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  13. ^ "History of Inspire". The Kamlangjai Project. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  14. ^ Winn, Patrick (8 September 2016). "Thailand is moving closer to decriminalizing meth". Public Radio International (PRI). Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  15. ^ Enhancing the lives of female inmates. UNODC (23 April 2009). Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati in hospital with heart problem". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Thai princess collapses from heart condition, palace says". BBC News. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati in hospital with heart problem". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Thailand mum about princess' condition 5 months on from accident". La Prensa Latina Media. EFE. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  20. ^ "Royal prodigal son's return stirs up Thailand". BBC News. EFE. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  21. ^ "ประกาศสถาปนา" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai). 136 (41ข): 7. 28 July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2019.
  22. ^ "??" (PDF). Ratchkitcha.soc.go.th. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  23. ^ "Photographic image" (JPG). Topicstock.pantip.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Photographic image" (JPG). S-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  25. ^ "Photographic image" (JPG). Topicstock.pantip.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  26. ^ "Photographic image". Bkk1.in.th. Archived from the original (JPG) on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  27. ^ "??" (PDF). Ratchkitcha.soc.go.th. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  28. ^ "??" (PDF). Ratchkitcha.soc.go.th. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  29. ^ "??" (PDF). Ratchkitcha.soc.go.th. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  30. ^ "??" (PDF). Ratchkitcha.soc.go.th. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  31. ^ [1] Archived 18 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "Photographic image" (JPG). Mfa.go.th. Retrieved 23 October 2016.

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Bajrakitiyabha House of MahidolCadet branch of the House of ChakriBorn: 7 December 1978 Lines of succession Preceded byPrince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti Line of succession to the Thai throne 2nd in line Succeeded byPrincess Sirivannavari Order of precedence Preceded byThe Princess Suddhanarinatha Thai order of precedence 8th position Succeeded byPrincess Sirivannavari Diplomatic posts Preceded bySomsak Suriyawong Thailand Ambassador to Austria 2012–2014 Succeeded byAttayut Srisamut
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