Bhongprabai

Bhongprabai
Princess of Siam
Born	19 December 1867 Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand
Died	1 March 1942 (aged 74) Bangkok, Thailand
Full name – Her Serene Highness Princess (Mom Chao) Bhong: 19 December 1867 – 1 October 1868 – Her Royal Highness Princess Bhongprabai: 1 October 1868 – 1 March 1942
House	Chakri Dynasty
Father	Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Siam
Mother	Mom Rajawongse Khae Phuengbunya

Her Royal Highness Princess Bhongprabai or Phra Chao Boromwongse Ther Phra Ong Chao Bhongprabai (RTGS: Phongpraphai) (Thai: พระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าผ่องประไพ) (19 December 1867 – 1 March 1942), was the Princess of Siam (later Thailand. She was a member of Siamese Royal Family. She is the first daughter of Chulalongkorn, King Rama V of Siam.

Birth

Princess Bhongprabai was born on 19 December 1867 at Grand Palace, Bangkok. She was the first daughter of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V the Great) of Siam, and The Noble Consort (Chao Chom Manda) Mom Rajawongse Khae Phuengbunya. While she was born, her father was still the heir-apparent as Prince Chulalongkorn, the Prince Binitprajanardh. He became the father at the age of only 14. And Mom Rajawongse Khae, was the prince's nanny. After birth, she was given title as Mom Chao in the Serene Highness style. When he succeeded the throne from his father as the King, she became the first The Noble Consort or Chao Chom Manda in his reign. And the princess was elevated to Princess, in the Royal Highness style.

After she was born, Chao Chom Manda Tieng, the noble consort of King Mongkut (Rama IV) took the little baby to King Mongkut. He asked whose is this daughter?, she did not answer, and asked the king, who does the girl look like?. He surprised, then he answered she looks like Pheoi (Queen Debsirindra, his queen consort). Then he realised that she was Prince Chulalongkorn's daughter. He angried both the Prince and Mom Rajawongse Khae that having child before succeeding to the throne. But he did not do punishment to the prince and Mom Rajaongse Khae.

Life in the palace

After her father succeeded to the throne. Both the princess and her mother had their own residence in the area of Grand Palace. They lived in the Grand Palace all of their lives. She was strict about the old tradition in the Royal Family, although in 1873, King Chulalongkorn cancelled the ancient tradition of have an audience with royalty by standing or sitting on the chair same as the western tradition, instead crouching in the past. Every members of the Royal Family, including the officers do in the new tradition, except the little princess. She still crouched when she was near her father. King Chulalongkorn was so angry with her, he pulled her daughter's tuft for making her standing, but she was still crouching.

And while she was living in her residence in the Grand Palace, her father hardly ever visit her. Although he has many children, the King visited his children every spare time, especially Chao Chom Manda Pae Bunnag and her daughter, Princess Srivilailaksana, the Princess of Suphanburi. Caused decreasing importance of the princess, as the eldest daughter, and the eldest child.

She died on 1 March 1942, at the age of 74.

Ancestry

Ancestor of Princess Bhongprabai

Princess Bhongprabai	Father: Chulalongkorn, King Rama V of Siam	Paternal Grandfather: Mongkut, King Rama IV of Siam	Paternal Great-grandfather: Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, King Rama II of Siam
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Queen Sri Suriyendra
		Paternal Grandmother: Queen Debsirindra	Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Sirivongse, the Prince Matayabidaksa
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Mom Noi Sirivongs na Ayudhya
	Mother: Mom Rajawongse Khae Phuengbunya	Maternal Grandfather: Mom Chao Nok Phuengbunya	Maternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kraisara, the Prince Raksaronares
			Maternal Great-grandmother: unknown
		Maternal Grandmother: unknown	Maternal Great-grandfother: unknown
			Maternal Great-grandmother: unknown