Savang Vadhana


Sri Savarindira, also known as Savang Vadhana , was a consort and half-sister of Chulalongkorn, but she was not the Rajini or the highest ranked consort. After her first grandson's accession to power in 1935, she became known as Somdetch Phra Phan Vassa Ayika Chao. All her children died before her, so she lived to see her grandsons Ananda Mahidol and Bhumibol Adulyadej take the throne.

Life

She was the 27th daughter of King Rama IV and Princess Consort Piam and thus her husband's half-sister. Her marriage to Chulalongkorn produced the following children:
In addition, the queen also adopted several of her husband's children and raised them as her own children:
All of her Biological children died before her. She saw two of her sons first-in-line to the throne, Vajirunhis and Mahidol.
When King Prajadhipok abdicated in 1935, the son of Queen Savang Vadhana's youngest son, Prince Ananda Mahidol, acceded to the throne as King Ananda Mahidol. She received the title of Queen Grandmother, having been renamed Sri Savarindira by King Prajadhipok while she was Queen Aunt.
Queen Sri Savarindira was also the grandmother of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Although her son, Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis did not survive to become king she lived to see two of her grandsons become king.
The Queen also helped establish a hospital in Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, known today as Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital, operated by the Thai Red Cross Society.

Death

She died on 17 December 1955, at the age of 93. Her ashes were interred in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit, Bangkok. A residence of the queen can be seen at the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. She resided in latter years at Sa Pathum Palace, The Royal Private Residence, located behind Siam Paragon Shopping center in downtown Bangkok, where a museum dedicated to her is being constructed at the Tamnak Yai Mansion inside Sa Pathum Palace.
Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation was founded on 27 October 2005 under the aegis of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, her great-granddaughter.

Ancestors

Honours