Katya & The Prince of Siam

Dusit Palace and its surroundings.

 

In 1897 accompanied by the Heir-Apparent Vajiravudh, Chulalongkorn set out in his yacht ‘Maha Chakri’ on his first grand tour of Europe, visiting crowned heads and heads of state in France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Russia and England, where he stayed in Buckingham Palace and was entertained by the Prince of Wales, as Queen Victoria was resting at Windsor before the fatigue of her forthcoming Diamond Jubilee.

During his absence, Queen Saowabha had been proclaimed Regent, and as he wrote to Chakrabongse: ‘Mother is upset at my departure and anxious over her heavy duties’.

The whole tour was an immense success, not least because Chulalongkorn was one of the first monarchs from South-East Asia with a fluent command of English, which enabled him to converse with most of his fellow monarchs without an interpreter but, in addition, his personality weighed heavily in his favour. Although an impressive figure on ceremonial occasions, he possessed an easy informality, rare indeed in those days, and his relaxed engaging expression in many of his portraits and photographs gives the impression of so lively and vital a personality that, over the distance of almost a century, one feels a warm admiration and affection for him.

 

 

King Chulalongkorn in Russia, 1896. Front row (left to right): HIH Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia (sister of Emperor Nicholas II). His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, Her Imperial Majesty Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Nicholas II of Russia and HRH Crown Prince Vajiravudh (later His Majesty King Vajiravudh). Back row: HRH Prince Svasti Sobhon (half-brother of King Chulalongkorn), Count Muravieff (Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs), HRH Prince Jayanta Mongol (half-brother of King Chulalongkorn) and HRH Prince Chirapravati Voradej, Prince of Nakorn Jaisri (son of King Chulalongkorn).

 

While undoubtedly stimulated and interested in such an extensive introduction to the Western world, the King, because of his already existing cordial relations with Tsar Nicholas, was particularly pleased to arrive in St Petersburg. Even the customary formal photograph taken with the Emperor and Empress, one of their daughters, Grand-Duchess Olga, the Empress’s Uncle, Prince Hans of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, Prince Vajiravudh and two ADC’s reflects his evident pleasure. Seated between the Empress and the Grand-Duchess in that summer garden, he is smiling, holding negligently in one hand a rose he has picked, while his other arm is linked in an easy-going fashion through that of the Grand-Duchess, looking touchingly ‘jeune fille’ and timid in her high-necked white muslin.

This visit turned out to be fateful for Chulalongkorn’s son, Chakrabongse, for it was then that the Emperor put forward the proposal that, should Chulalongkorn agree, he would be happy to receive one of his sons at the Imperial Court and make himself entirely responsible for his future education. The Tsar’s offer must have been seen as a great opportunity by Chulalongkorn for, although he had many sons to choose from, his choice fell unerringly on his favourite Chakrabongse, as being likely to profit most from it and, in so doing, bring honour to his father and his country.

II

From Bangkok to St Petersburg

 

King Chulalongkorn and Prince Chakrabongse.

 

Prince Chakrabongse in full dress Hussar Uniform.

 

In 1896, the year before his father’s tour of Europe and Imperial Russia, Chakrabongse had already been settled in England in the house of a Dr Yarr near Camberley, while his brother Crown Prince Vajiravudh was staying with a Colonel Hume, who was coaching him for entry into Sandhurst.

Chakrabongse was there to pursue his studies and perfect his English. He had with him his attaché, Nok Young, and a friend of his own age, Nai Poum Sakara. Poum was not a noble or a prince, but a brilliant student and winner of the King’s Scholarship. He had been chosen to accompany Chakrabongse not only for companionship but because the astute Chulalongkorn considered that this clever hard-working boy would act as a spur and encouragement to the scholastic endeavours of his son.