John and Jenny Fulton

Real International Princesses: Thai Princess Saowapha

By Jenny Fulton

Introduction

My book, An International Princess Alphabet Primer, features princesses from countries and cultures around the world. Each character is named after a real person. These are their stories.

Because the alphabet book was written for young kids, the biographies I’m sharing are short, child-friendly, often rose-tinted summaries.

Thai Princess Saowapha

Thai Princess Saowapha is named for Queen Saowapha, “Her Majesty the Queen of Siam.”

Princess Saowapha was born in Bangkok on January 1, 1864. At that time, Thailand was known as the kingdom of Siam. Saowapha’s dad was King Mongkut and her mom was the queen, Lady Piam.

In 1878, when Saowapha was only 14 years old, she married King Chulalongkorn, the new King of Siam. Chulalongkorn and Saowapha loved and trusted each other very much. They had nine kids, but four of them died when they were young. Two of their sons eventually ruled as King of Siam.

King Chulalongkorn loved Saowapha so much that he gave her the title, “Supreme Queen.” No other Siamese queen had ever been called that. When the king was away visiting Europe, Saowapha ruled the nation with strength and kindness. She worked hard to help her people, especially the women. For example, her efforts and guidance made it safer and more comfortable for women to give birth.

In 1883, Queen Saowapha sent four girls to study midwifery in England. She paid for more girls and boys to travel to Europe to attend various colleges. Several years later, in 1897, she started a college for midwifery in Bangkok. She also created the Thai Red Cross Society. Throughout her life, Saowapha founded two girls’ schools in Bangkok and four in other provinces. Europeans referred to Saowapha as “Her Majesty the Queen of Siam.”

In 1913, Sahachat Memorial, a bronze statue with a pig on top (to celebrate the Year of the Pig when Saowapha was born) was built to celebrate her 50th birthday.

Queen Saowapha died on October 20, 1919. All of Thailand cried for her. People still place flowers on Sahachat Memorial to remember and honor all the wonderful things she did.

Royal Thai  Palace in Bangkok Image by Tracey Wong from Pixabay

Other Princess Bios

Works Cited

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