Katya & The Prince of Siam

‘Our life is very quiet indeed and I sometimes miss society as it’s a little dull for my lively character. But God gives and we’ll have children and then I won’t feel alone when Lek is out which, to our mutual regret, is very often. In fact he’s at his office each day from twelve to five-thirty, and he has to see the King every other evening from eight to nine. This is when the King comes out onto the square before his palace where his subjects can see and speak to him, so that although they regard him almost as a God, they know that he cares for them. Though they are not bound to attend, most of the princes do so, including Lek, who, now that the King is not so furious and talks to him again, I am particularly anxious not to offend.

‘There are however various ceremonies at which Princes of the first rank must be present such as a memorial service for members of the Royal Family, a Day of Prayer, or a National Holiday. On such occasions, the King is always angered by a Prince’s absence, which he unfailingly notices.’

 

Considering Katya’s unfaltering devotion to her own faith, her attitude to Buddhism is surprisingly receptive for she writes:

 

‘The more I get to know Buddhist customs the more I like this religion. There are a remarkably large number of monasteries here. Monks wear yellow robes, their heads are shaved and they go barefoot. Every Siamese on reaching the age of 20 becomes a monk for a while and enters a monastery, usually for three or four months, but not less than three days. When Lek returned to Bangkok, one of his uncles – who is the Patriarch – asked him repeatedly when he intended to enter a monastery and was very puzzled when he received no reply – the real reason, of course is that Lek could not become a monk as he is already a married man!

’

 

On the other hand, in common with the imaginative Mrs Leonowens before her, Katya expressed wholehearted disapproval of ‘the position of women’.

 

‘They are not educated at all and from early childhood taught to regard a man as a superior being. Polygamy, which I find disgusting, is widespread. Sometimes one man will have ten wives or even more. There is a favourite wife and all the others are practically servants, who have to crawl before their master and are afraid to utter a word. This arouses my indignation.