Sri Savarindira (, 10 September 1862 – 17 December 1955), also known as Savang Vadhana. She was a half-sister and queen of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). After her first grandson's accession to power in 1935, she became known as Her Majesty Queen Sri Savarindira, The Queen Grandmother of Thailand title in Thailand is Somdetch Phra Phan Vassa Ayika Chao (สมเด็จพระพันวัสสาอัยยิกาเจ้า; ; "the Queen Grandmother"). All her children died before her and she lived to see her grandsons Ananda Mahidol and Bhumibol Adulyadej take the throne.

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. 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 death, including two of her sons first in line to the throne, Vajirunhis and Mahidol. When King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) abdicated in 1935, the son of Queen Savang Vadhana's youngest son, Prince Ananda Mahidol, 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). She lived long enough 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 resided in latter years at Sa Pathum Palace, currently located behind Siam Paragon center in downtown Bangkok, where a museum dedicated to her is being constructed at the Tamnak Yai Mansion (Grand mansion) inside Sa Pathum Palace. 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. Her state funeral was the first to be covered briefly on television by the young Television of Thailand channel. Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation was founded on 27 October 2005 under the aegis of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, her great-granddaughter.

Ancestors

Title, styles, honours and awards

Styles

Honours

Issue