Varananda Dhavaj
Prince Varananda Dhavaj (Thai: วรานนท์ธวัช; RTGS: Waranonthawat), born Prince Varananda Dhavaj Chudadhuj (Thai: วรานนท์ธวัช จุฑาธุช; RTGS: Waranonthawat Chuthathut; August 19, 1922 – September 14, 1990) was the son of Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok and Mom Ravi Kayananda. Although he was the only son of a senior Thai prince, he was disqualified from succession to the throne because his mother was not Prince Chudadhut's formal wife.
| Varananda Dhavaj | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Thailand | |
| Born | 19 August 1922 Bangkok, Siam |
| Died | 14 September 1990 (aged 68) Bangkok, Thailand |
| Spouse | Pamela Smee Galyani Vadhana Mahidol Kokeaw Prakaykavil na Chiengmai Srisalai Suchatwut |
| Issue | Dilok Nicholas Chudadhuj Dara Jane Chudadhuj |
| House | Chudadhut family (Chakri Dynasty) |
| Father | Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok |
| Mother | Ravi Kayananda |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Following the death of his father, the prince was raised by his uncle King Prajadhipok. He joined the monarch in virtual exile in England. He enlisted in the RAF on February 24, 1942 under the name Nicky Varanand, was commissioned in 1943, and served as pilot in the Normandy campaign during World War II. He remained in the RAF, finally retiring as a flight lieutenant in 1960 to fly commercial aircraft for Thai Airways International. He later created his own airline, Air Siam, which went bankrupt in 1977. In 1973, he also became an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Marriage and family
He married Mom Pamela Smee on June 10, 1950. Two children were born from this union:
- Mom Rajawongse Dilok Nicholas Chudadhuj (1953). Married with Jane Bishop and Chulalaxana Chudadhuj.
- Mom Rajawongse Dara Jane Chudadhuj (1956)
On September 24, 1969, he married his cousin Princess Galyani Vadhana, King Bhumibol's eldest sister. And had two concubines, Princess Kokeaw Prakaykavil na Chiang Mai and Srisalai Suchatwut.
References
- HH Prince Waranonthawat at the Wayback Machine (archived October 26, 2009)
- HH Prince Varananda Dhavaj