Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the Princess Rajasarinisiribajra, (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าลูกเธอ เจ้าฟ้าพัชรกิติยาภา นเรนทิราเทพยวดี กรมหลวงราชสาริณีสิริพัชร มหาวัชรราชธิดา) also known as Princess Pa or Patty, born 7 December 1978. is a Thai diplomat and princess 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.
Early life and education
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was born on 7 December 1978 at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace in Bangkok, She is 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, finishing at the Chitralada School.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha received a LL.B. degree from Thammasat University, as well a B.A. degree in International Relations from Sukhothai Thammatirat University, both in 2000. She subsequently obtained a LL.M. degree from Cornell Law School in 2002 and a J.S.D. degree from Cornell University in 2005.
On 12 May 2012, she was awarded an honorary LL.D. degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
On completion of her doctorate 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 is currently appointed to Office of the Attorney General of Udon Thani Province.
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", the first set of universal guidelines addressing the treatment of women in the justice system.
Bajrakitiyabha runs the "Kamlangjai" or "Inspire" project, which reached out to incarcerated Thai women including pregnant inmates and their babies, and intends to assure that female and pregnant inmates are given adequate assistance to prepare them to reenter society upon release. 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 From 2012 to 2014, she was the Thai ambassador to Austria, until she took a post at the Office of the Attorney General.
Titles, honours and symbols
7 December 1978 – 5 May 2019: Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha
(Thai: พระเจ้าหลานเธอ พระองค์เจ้าพัชรกิติยาภา; Phra Chao Lan Thoe Phra Ong Chao Bajrakitiyabha)
5 May 2019 – 27 July 2019: Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati
(Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าลูกเธอ เจ้าฟ้าพัชรกิติยาภา นเรนทิราเทพยวดี; Somdet Phra Chao Luk Thoe Chao Fa Bajrakitiyabha)
28 July 2019 – present: Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the Princess Rajasarinisiribajra
(Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าลูกเธอ เจ้าฟ้าพัชรกิติยาภา นเรนทิราเทพยวดี กรมหลวงราชสาริณีสิริพัชร มหาวัชรราชธิดา; Somdet Phra Chao Luk Thoe Chao Fa Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati Kromma Luang Rajasarinisiribajra Mahavajra Rajadhida)
Royal decorations
Thailand: Dame of The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri
Thailand: Dame of the Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems
Thailand: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao, First Class
Thailand: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant
Thailand: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
Thailand: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn
Thailand: King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
Thailand: King Rama X Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
Thailand: Recipient of the Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the Coronation of H.M. King Rama X
Foreign honour
Austria: Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in Gold with Sash (7 October 2014)
Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati Krom Luang Ratchasarinee Siripatchara Maha Watchara Ratchathida
5 things to know about Princess Bajrakitiyabha
1. She is the only one of the king’s children born to his first wife
King Maha Vajiralongkorn – then the Crown Prince – was married to his cousin, Princess Soamsawali from 1977 to 1991. Their only child, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, was born after a year of marriage. The princess’ mother remains part of the royal family.
2. She campaigns for the rights of prisoners
Thai prisons are overcrowded, and the country’s per capita incarceration rates are up there with those of China and Russia. Princess Bajrakitiyabha has followed in her mother’s footsteps by taking a keen interest in social welfare. She is in charge of the “Kamlangjai” project, which translates to “Inspire”. It helps ensure that incarcerated Thai women, particularly those who are pregnant or mothers, are given the help they need – such as counselling and child care – to go back into society when they are released. She also runs a project entitled “Enhancing Lives of Female Inmates”, which campaigns for humane treatment of female offenders.
3. She went to school in England
The princess attended Rajini School in Thailand for her elementary and junior high years, but for secondary school, she moved to England and attended the all-girls’ Heathfield School in Ascot. This was a crucial preparation for her later diplomatic pursuits as she gained exposure to a different culture, which she echoed in her later education. That brings us to our next surprise.
4. She has studied law – lots of it
The princess has a bachelor of law degree from Thammasat University, which she received in 2000. She also holds a master’s degree in law from Cornell Law School in New York (2002), as well as a doctorate in judicial science from Cornell (2005). In 2012, she was also awarded an honorary doctorate by IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Her international education in the legal system has prepared her well for her role as a diplomat. And speaking of international affairs …
5. She was the Thai ambassador to Austria
In 2012, she served as the Thai Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in New York, before being appointed Thai ambassador to Austria, a position she held from 2012 to 2014. The princess’ involvement in international affairs and humanitarian causes speaks well of her, and, hopefully, she continues to have a positive effect on the world.
UN Women National Ambassador HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol
Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand was appointed a UN Women National Ambassador to Thailand in September 2008. Her ambassadorship and personal credentials have lent unprecedented visibility to UN Women in Thailand, while uniting multiple stakeholders around the cause of ending violence against women. As a result of a nationwide public awareness drive with her as a central figure, Thailand collected over three million names for UN Women’s global Say NO to Violence against Women campaign.
“I take pride in saying that Thailand’s support to the global UNIFEM [now UN Women] Say NO to Violence against Women Campaign is second to none,” said HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha. “I also note with appreciation the national ownership that has evolved around this process. It is indeed a strong foundation upon which coordinated efforts to end violence against women and girls in Thailand have been and will continue to be built.”
Sources
Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the Princess Rajasarinisiribajra
Bajrakitiyabha. (n.d.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bajrakitiyabha
Turner, P. (2019). 5 things to know about Princess Bajrakitiyabha, daughter of Thai King Vajiralongkorn and his first wife Princess Soamsawali. STYLE. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3038354/5-things-know-about-princess-bajrakitiyabha-daughter-thai
UN Women National Ambassador HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol. (n.d.). UNWOMEN. https://www.unwomen.org/en/partnerships/goodwill-ambassadors/princess-bajrakitiyabha
