EX-KING OF SIAM

Evening Star, Issue 21993, 1 April 1935, Page 9

EX-KING OF SIAM

PEACEFUL RETIREMENT IN- ENGLAND Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 30. The ex-King of Siam intends to live in England permanently. He has

bought a house standing in fifteen acres at Virginia Water. He says England is so peaceful, and he is very happy here.

BOY KING IN SWITZERLAND LAUSANNE, March, 31. (Received April'l, at 11 a.m.) The boy King of Siam is to remain in Switzerland for two years to complete his education. EDUCATED IN ENGLAND The ex-King and ex-Qucen arc cousins and were married in 1918, seven years befoi'o be was elevated to the throne on the death of his brother King fyima VI. The King is still only thirty-seven, and is youthful even for that age. The father of the King was the magnificent Chulalongkorn, who reigned forty-two years, and was succeeded by Rama VI., a man whose zeal for reform was both violent and autocratic. He tried to force _ Western methods of sanitation upon his people, he founded universities, infused new life into the Boy Scouts, and fought for the emancipation of women. At one stage he thought of issuing a decree abolishing' polygamy, but was _ discouraged by a missionary, who pointed out that monogamy was becoming general in any ease, and that in a generation polygamy would have disappeared. In the meantime there were the plural wives and children of the older generation to consider. Rama died in 1925, and his brother proved more easy-going in administration.

The ex-King (Prajadhipok) has a slight figure which is characteristic of the House of and so also is his prepossessing frankness of countenance, with h\s broad, intellectual forehead, the direct’ gaze of his eyes, and his friendly smile. His usual dress on informal occasions is the Siamese costume, but when he wears one of the uniforms of his many supreme offices, his trim figure shows to advantage. His uniforms are cut by a British tailor imported to Bangkok. A foreigner, upon being introduced to his Majesty, finds that he is being addressed by a liberally educated man of the cosmopolitan, modern world. In fact, the ex-King is more than usually well informed on n surprising number of subjects. He was educated in England, and speaks English perfectly, also French. As part of his education, he .travelled extensively. He is not only familiar with the European countries, but also with America, for after a period of military training in France he returned to. Siam by way of that country. It might be recalled, however, that at that time ho was not the heir presumptive to the throne.