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Peter Ladd Jensen (1972-1998)
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Thun Kramom Ying Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi (;
RTGS: —Ubonrat Ratchakanya Siriwatthana Phannawadi;
Literally: "Ubonratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, daughter to the Queen Regent"), or
Ubolratana in brief (born
April 5,
1951 in
Lausanne,
Switzerland), is a princess of
Thailand and the eldest child of
King Bhumibol Adulyadej and
Queen Regent Sirikit. She relinquished her royal title and settled in the United States with her husband,
Peter Ladd Jensen, but came back to
Thailand after divorcing in
1998.
Since her return to Thailand, she has increasingly taken part in royal ceremonies, though not to the extent of her royal siblings. In 2008, she began a film career, playing the main role in the Thai film
Where The Miracle Happens.
Early Life
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya is the eldest daughter and the eldest child of
King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of Thailand) and
Queen Sirikit, the Queen Regent of Thailand. She was born on
April 5 1951, at
Mont Suisse Hospital,
Lausanne,
Switzerland. She returned to
Thailand and stayed at
Ambhornsathan Throne Hall,
Dusit Palace. She was styled
Her Royal Highness by her father at the Royal Celebration of the first month birthday ceremony (Phra Ratchaphithi Somphot Duan Lae Khuen Phra U; พระราชพิธีสมโภชเดือนและขึ้นพระอู่) King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave her name and style
Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Phannavadi. Her names are derived from several royal ancestors:
- The name Siri comes from the name of her mother, Queen Sirikit.
Moreover, she got her nickname,
La Poupée, which means
Doll. Her parents often called her
Pée.
She has taken part in royal duties since she was very young.
In 4th SEA Games in 1967 in Bangkok, H.M. The King and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya competed in the sport of sailing and won gold medals.
Education
Princess Ubol Ratana attended the primary to secondary levels at
Chitralada School. After finishing her secondary school education, the Princess left for the United States for her tertiary education. She studied at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) majoring in Mathematics, and later at the
University of California at Los Angeles. It was while at M.I.T. that she first met the man she would marry,
Peter Ladd Jensen. She graduated with a Masters degree in
public health from the
University of California at Los Angeles.
Marriage and family
thumb|250px|Royal flag of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya.On July 25, 1972, Ubol Ratana relinquished her royal titles to marry Jensen, and then settled in the United States with her husband for over 26 years. Her husband, as a foreigner, did not receive any royal titles. After relinquishing her royal titles and status, she was given the new title
Thanpuying (Dame) Ubol Ratana Jensen. After years of rumored marital problems, they divorced in 1998. Princess Ubol Ratana and her children lived in
San Diego, California until 2001, when they relocated back to Thailand.
While living in the United States, Ubol Ratana and Peter Ladd Jensen had three children: two daughters and a son, all born in the United States.
- Khun Bhumi Jensen (affectionately known as Khun Poom) (August 16, 1983 - December 26, 2004)
While Thanpuying Ubolratana Rajakanya Jensen remained in the U.S., her mother Queen Sirikit and other members of the Royal family often flew to the United States for visits. Ubol Ratana likewise flew to Thailand along with her husband to visit her parents and the other members of the Royal Family, while joining them and taking part in royal ceremonies with the Royal Family when she visited Thailand.
Visiting Thailand
While living in the United States, Princess Ubol Ratana came to Thailand to visit the Royal Family many times. The first time, in
1980, she visited her parents and the other members of the Royal Family. The second time, in
1982, she came to attend the Royal Wedding of her sister,
Princess Chulabhorn Walailak and
Royal Thai Air Force Flight Lieutenant Virayudh Didyasarin. The third time, in
1987, she joined the Royal Celebration of the King's 60th Birthday Anniversary,
5 December 1987. The fourth time, in
1992, she joined the Royal Celebration of the Queen's 60th Birthday Anniversary,
12 August 1992. The last time she visited was in
1996, joining and taking part in the Royal Funeral and Cremation of her grandmother,
Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother. She did not return again until her divorce in
1998, at which time she and her children permanently relocated to Thailand
2001. She was given the title
Tunkramom Ying , which alludes to the status of
Chao Fa, but she does not officially hold the
Chao Fa title at present.
Royal title
Princess Ubol Ratana was born with the titles of
Her Royal Highness and
Princess Chao Fa, but gave these up on her marriage to an American citizen,
Peter Ladd Jensen. Her title,
Chao Fa was lost because she married a commoner. She had previously held the royal title
Chao Fa Ubolratana Rajakunya. She still retains the
style of
Tunkramom Ying, which alludes to the status of
Chao Fa, but she does not officially hold the
Chao Fa title at present.
Since her return to Thailand, she has increasingly taken part in royal ceremonies, though not to the extent of her royal siblings.
Film career
Princess Ubol Ratana acted in the
Thai movie "Where The Miracle Happens" (หนึ่งใจ..เดียวกัน ), released in August 2008. She plays the drama's main role of a lonely-at-the-top woman CEO who begins a life of
philanthropy after the death of her only daughter.
