The Royal Family Of Thailand At Home

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29901, 15 August 1962, Page 2

The Royal Family Of Thailand At Home

[By CHIRABHA ONRVAHG] It is quite common to see a happy family of four children being photographed by their father while their attractive mother looks on. But when this happens at Chitralada Palace, the home of the King and Queen of Thailand, the pictures that result are looked at with admiration by everyone in Thailand and by many others outside the country. The King takes photographs on the children’s birthdays when their Majesties, along with relatives, intimate friends and representatives of various societies under Royal patronage, go to greet them. Some of the most charming pictures of the King and Queen have been taken on these family occasions.

Although their duties keep King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit very

£ busy, they devote much time to their children * and oversee as much of their activities as * they can. The Queen, like most Thai mothers, breast-fed her babies until they were four months old.

- The King thought hi* children might be spoiled by teachers in ordinary schools He thought it would be better to keep them near him but to provide comparrions of their own ages So Chitralada School, a modern one-«torey building, open on all sides, was built at the palace in 1957. The King and Queen visit this school very often and give advice on how to improve it The reports on the children at the school are different from those in other schools. The King believes that parents should read reports on their boys and girls once a week, to know how their children are getting along. t Democratic School . Chitralada School is run on very democratic lines by Dr. Tasnii Boonyakupta, a graduate teacher from Wisconsin, United States. There are 70 pupils, some of whom are related to their Majesties, while others are intimate friends of the royal family. Once in school, the children . are told that they are all jaiike and should treat each Sother as equals. The royal children, as well as their friends, are punished by the teachers when they misbehave.

. The King «nd Queen rise every morning in good time for breakfast, which they have together in a private room on the top storey of Chitralada Palace. The second floor is the royal children's quarters, while the downstairs suites are used for receptions. The palace is a large modern-style house looking like a continental villa. It stands in a big compound of more than 100 acres. The usual breakfast is boiled eggs, toast and butter, rice soup and glasses of milk. The Queen often arranges the menu by herself. After breakfast, they read newspapers and magazines. Daily Audiences At 11 o’clock they are always engaged in audiences either with newly-accredited diplomats and their wives, or with representatives of some associations which come to report on their activities or to present some money to be

given away for charity. The King also receives the Prime Minister or other high officials, or some experts in whose work he is interested. If free from other duties the King, who is as keen a painter in oils as he is a photographer, finds some time to indulge his favourite hobby while the Queen takes her exercise by swimming in the modem swimming pool in the compound, or by practising ballet The King and Queen also play a game of badminton twice a week.

King is also an experienced movie photographer and many films produced by him are shown to raise funds for charity.

Their lunAeon is served at 1 or 2 o’clock. This meal the King and Queen have together, along with the court attendants. They prefer Thai food, but every day three European dishes are served. Research Station

As agriculture is the basis of the economic prosperity of Thailand, the King takes an interest not only in rice, the main export, but also in other crops. In the compound of the palace he has a research station where rice and various other crops are under observation. Prince Vaiiralongkom shares his father's interest in agriculture. They always go together to the research station The King was not educated at first as the heir to the throne and he had to work hard later to learn everything about his country and people. No* he wants to train his son, the present heir to the throne, from early life. So Prince Vajiralongkorn is

taken by his father to attend various ceremonies. Most of the World knows the King’s great love of music. He plays six instruments as well as being a composer of many songs. His songs ahe popular among Americans. The King’s band broadcasts every Friday from his private radio station. Public concerts are also given of both traditional Thai and Western music, held under the King's sponsorship, every Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon. Queen’s Roof Garden The Queen shares her husband’s interests in music and in gardening as well. She studied the piano in England, France and Switzerland and is now teaching her eldest daughter, Princess Übol Ratana. Apart from the gardens in the compound of the palace, winch are rich in various kinds of flowers—roses, lotus, zinnias, gerberae. jasmine and hibiscus—the Queen had her own roof garden. This is next to her dressing room, where roses, gardenia, bougainvillea and various other perfumed flowers are planted. She

often waters them herself. The best time for the royal children to see their parents is at tea. After that they all play indoor games together. The Queen also tells them stories. Summer Residence In summer, from the end of February to March, the royal family usually moves to Khlai Kangwol Palace, a summer residence at Hua Hin, about 300 miles away from Bangkok. Here they enjoy swimming and other amusements. Prince Vajiralongkorn, with his father as his tutor, learns music at this time. Many relatives and friends of the Royal family are invited to stay with them. Both the King and Queen are booklovers. The Queen reads history, biography, and detective novels, but not murder stories. Princess Übol Ratana also shares her mother's love of reading. Her favourite books are biography and all kinds of literature. The other two children, Princess Sirindhom (aged 7) and Princess Chulabhorn (aged 5) also go to Chitralada School, where one is in the second year of the primary department and the other in the second year of the kindergarten.