Queen Consort
Savang Vadhana of
Siam (also known as Queen Sri Savarindira, 10 September 1862 as Princess Savang Vadhana (พระเจ้าลูกเธอ พระองค์เจ้าสว่างวัฒนา) – 17 December 1955) was a consort of
King Chulalongkorn or Rama V (พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว รัชกาลที่ ๕). Her full name and
title was
Somdech Phra Sri Savarindira Boromma Raja Devi (or Somdej Phra Sri Savarindra Phra Boroma Raja Thevi) (สมเด็จพระศรีสวรินทิราบรมราชเทวี) - thus she was not the
Rajini (queen), but just was a highest consort. Already long widowed, after her first grandson's accession in 1935 she became สknown as,
Somdech Phra Phan Vasa Ayyika Chao (สมเด็จพระพันวัสสาอัยยิกาเจ้า), which means The Queen Grandmother because she was the grandmother of both King
Ananda Mahidol and the present king
King Bhumibol Adulyadej or Rama IX.
Life
She was the 27th daughter of King Rama IV (
King Mongkut or Rama IV) and Princess Consort
Piam and thus her husband's half-sister. From her marriage to Chulalongkorn there were the following issue:
- Prince Isariyalongkorn (4 September 1879 – 25 September 1879);
- Princess Vichitra Chiraprabha (21 April 1881 – 15 August 1881);
- Princess Sirabhorn Sobhon (19 July 1888) – 28 May 1898);
When
King Prajadhipok (or Rama VII) abdicated in 1935, the son of Queen Savang Vadhana's youngest son,
Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla, acceded to the throne as
King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII). 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 (Rama IX). Although her son, Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis did not survive to become king she lived to see two of her grandsons become king.
Death
She died on 17 December 1955, at the age of 93. Her ashes are 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, where a museum dedicated to her is being constructed at the Tamnak Yai Mansion.
Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation was founded on 27 October 2005 under the aegis of HRH Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, her great granddaughter.
Titles and Styles
- 1862 - 1878 : Her Royal Highness Princess Savang Vadhana
- 1878 - 1880 : Her Royal Highness Princess Savang Vadhana, Princess Consort
- 1880 - 1910 : Her Majesty Queen
- 1910 - 1934 : Her Majesty Queen Aunt
- 1934 - 1955 : Her Majesty Queen Grand Mother
