Chulabhorn Walailak

Princess Chulabhorn, the Princess Srisavangavadhana (Thai: จุฬาภรณ; [tɕù.lāː.pʰɔ̄ːn]; Chulaphon; born 4 July 1957, Bangkok) is a princess of Thailand, the youngest daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. She is officially styled Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, which corresponds to her full Thai title Somdet Phrachao Nong Nang Thoe Chaofa Chulabhorn Walailak Agrarajakumari (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าน้องนางเธอ เจ้าฟ้าจุฬาภรณวลัยลักษณ์ อัครราชกุมารี).

Princess Chulabhorn studied chemistry and graduated in 1979 from the Faculty of Science at Kasetsart University, with a Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours. She continued to study Science at Mahidol University, where she received her Doctorate in 1985.

She is heavily involved in the promotion of scientific research, and regularly gives awards and prizes. She held the position of a guest lecturer in chemistry at the Mahidol University. She also serves as president of the Chulabhorn Research Institute. She was awarded the UNESCO Einstein Medal for her efforts in promoting scientific collaboration in 1986 and was the first Asian to be invited to join the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom as an Honorary Fellow.

In 1981, Chulabhorn married Royal Thai Air Force officer Group Captain Virayudh Tishyasarin (Thai: วีระยุทธ ดิษยะศริน; Wirayut Dityasarin), a commoner, an Air Vice Marshal. According to royal custom, she would have lost her title upon marrying a man of lower rank. However, her father granted her special permission to keep the title Chao Fa even after her marriage.

From this marriage, which eventually ended in divorce, she has two daughters:

• Princess Siribhachudabhorn
• Princess Aditayadornkitikhun

Titles

• 4 July 1957 – 5 May 2019 : Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn
  • Somdet Phrachao Luk Thoe Chaofa Chulabhorn Walailak Agrarajakumari
    (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าลูกเธอ เจ้าฟ้าจุฬาภรณวลัยลักษณ์ อัครราชกุมารี)
• 5 May 2019 – Present : Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, the Princess Srisavangavadhana
  • Somdet Phrachao Nong Nang Thoe Chaofa Chulabhorn Walailak Agrarajakumari, Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana Vorakhattiya Rajanari
    (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าน้องเธอ เจ้าฟ้าจุฬาภรณวลัยลักษณ์ อัครราชกุมารี กรมพระศรีสวางควัฒน วรขัตติยราชนารี)

Honorary degrees

Military rank

• General, Admiral and Air Chief Marshal

Volunteer Defense Corps of Thailand rank

• Volunteer Defense Corps Colonel

Academic rank

• Professor of Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy (๋June 27, 1986 - October 1, 1986)
• Professor of Mahidol University

Awards

Honours

Foreign Honours

•  Japan: Paulownia Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown
• Nepalese Royal Family: Member Grand Cross of the Most Glorious Order of Ojaswi Rajanya
•  Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
•  Peru: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for Distinguished Services
•  Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
•  Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Seraphim
•  United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

Institutions associated with the Princess

There are many things and places named after Princess Chulabhorn to commemorate her.

• Chulabhorn District of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
• Chulabhorn Dam on the Nam Phrom River in Khon San, Chaiyaphum Province

Academic and institute

• Chulabhorn Research Institute in Bangkok
• Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
• Princess Chulabhorn's College group of schools
• HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science
• Chulabhorn Graduate Institute

Flora and fauna

• Fish Amblypharyngodon chulabhornae Vidthayanon & Kottelat, 1990
• Freshwater crab Thaipotamon chulabhorn (Naiyanetr, 1993)
• Orchid Phalaenopsis 'Princess Chulabhorn' = Phalaenopsis 'Rose Miva' xPhalaenopsis 'Kandy Queen' breeding by Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, Kandy in Sri Lanka.