Savang Vadhana

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Queen Savang Vadhana of Thailand (also known as Queen Sri Savarindira, born 10 September, 1862 as Princess Savang Vadhana (พระเจ้าลูกเธอ พระองค์เจ้าสว่างวัฒนา) – died 17 December 1955) was one wife of King Chulalongkorn or Rama V (พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว รัชกาลที่ ๕). Her full name and title was Somdech Phra Sri Savarindira Boromma Raja Devi (or Somdej Phra Sri Savarindra Phra Boroma Raja Thevi) (สมเด็จพระศรีสวรินทีราบรมราชเทวี) - thus she was not the Rajini (queen) of her husband, but just a higher consort. Already long widowed, after her first grandson's accession in 1935 she became known as, Somdech Phra Phan Vasa Ayyika Chao (สมเด็จพระพันวสาอัยยิกาเจ้า), which means The Queen Grandmother because she was the grandmother of both King Ananda Mahidol and the present king King Bhumibol Adulyadej or Rama IX.

She was the 27th daughter of King Rama IV (King Mongkut or Rama IV) and Princess Consort Piam and thus her husband's half-sister. From Chulalongkorn and hers marriage was born:

Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis (b. 27 June 1878 – 4 January 1895);
Prince Isariyalongkorn (4 September 1879 – 25 September 1879);
Princess Vichitra Chiraprabha (21 April 1881 – 15 August 1881);
Prince Sommatiwongse Varodaya, Prince of Nakhon Si Thammarat (9 June 1882 – 17 June 1899);
Princess Valaya Alongkorn, Princess of Phetchaburi (16 April 1884 – 15 February 1939);
Princess Sirabhorn Sobhon (19 July 1888) – 28 May 1898);
Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla (1 January 1892 – 24 September 1929).

When King Prajadhipok (or Rama VII) abdicated in 1935, the son of Queen Savang Vadhana's second son, Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla, acceded to throne as King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII). She received the title of Queen Grandmother, having been renamed Sri Savarindira by King Prajadhipok while she was Queen Aunt.

Queen Sri Savarindira was also the grandmother of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). Although her son, Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis did not survive to become king she lived to see two of her grandsons become king. She died on December 17th. 1955 at the age of 93.

A residence of the queen can be seen at the Bang Pa-In Palace.

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