The Princess's rare royal title

The Princess's rare royal title

HRH didn't want higher rank than her father: official

Published on January 4, 2008

Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana is the only female member of the Chakri Family in the reign of King Rama IX to have been given the noble title "Krom". His Majesty King Bhumibol gave Her Royal Highness the title "Somdet Phra Chao Phee Nang Ther Chao Fa Galyani Vadhana Krommaluang Narathiwat Rajanagarindra" to celebrate Her Royal Highness's sixth cycle (72nd) birthday anniversary on May 6, 1995.

According a senior official of Justice Ministry and an expert on Thai history and culture, Thongtong Chandrangsu, His Majesty wanted give the Princess a position higher than "Krom", but she said she did not want to be put on a higher stature than their father HRH Prince Mahidol of Songkla. "She also chose the province 'Narathiwat', as she said it is located close to Songkhla and the name sounded beautiful," Thongtong said on Channel 9.

Noble titles given to members of the Royal Family are categorised into birth titles and appointed titles. The highest birth title is Chao Fa, followed by Phra Ong Chao, Mom Chao, Mom Rajawongse and Mom Luang. Appointed titles are granted by the King. Royal family members with lower birth titles may be given a higher status, such as a Mom Chao could be promoted to Phra Ong Chao or Phra Ong Chao to Chao Tang Krom.

The title Chao Tang Krom first appeared in the Ayutthaya period during the reign of King Narai and was categorised into four ranks: Krommaphra, Krommaluang, Krommakhun and Krommamuen. Krommaphra was the title for the Royal Mother and the Crown Prince, Krommaluang was for consorts or respected princesses, Krommakhun was for the Crown Prince and Krommamuen was for princes and princesses lower in rank than the Crown Prince.

In the Rattanakosin period, the title "Chao Tang Krom" was categorised into five ranks: Krom Phraya or Krom Somdet Phra was for the most respected princes and princesses; Krommaphra for the Royal Mother, respected elder princes and princesses; Krommaluang for elder princes and princesses; Krommakhun for young princes and princesses; and Krommamuen for Phra Ong Chao or the princes and princesses lower in rank than Chao Fa.

In the Ayutthaya period, the title "Krom" was given to honour princes and princesses who worked well and merited a cadre to assist them under their supervision in the form of a unit or "Krom".

Since the reign of King Rama V, after the abolition of slavery in 1905 when ordinary people were no longer forced to work for the royal court, "Krom" has only been an honorary title. King Rama V gave his children the title "Krom" with the name of provinces in Thailand.

During the present reign, in 1950 and 1952, five princes were given the title "Krom".

On May 8, 1950, Phra Worawongther Phra Ong Chao Dhaninivat was appointed Phra Worawongther Krommamuen Bidyalabh Bridhyakorn.

On May 5, 1952, Phra Chao Worawongther Phra Ong Chao Chumbhotbongse Boripatra was appointed Phra Chao Worawongther Krommamuen Nakhonsawansakdipinit; Phra Chao Worawongther Phra Ong Chao Wan Waithayakon was appointed Phra Chao Worawongther Krommamuen Naradhip Bongprabandh; Phra Worawongther Phra Ong Chao Alongkot was appointed Phra Worawongther Krommamuen Adisorn Udomsak; and Phra Worawongther Phra Ong Chao Nakkhatra Mangkala was appointed Phra Worawongther Krommamuen Chanthaburi Suranath.

The next person to receive the title was Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana in May 1995.

Nithinand Yorsaengrat

The Nation