Katya & The Prince of Siam

‘Thongrod has been working particularly hard at the moment because he is on the examining board for the officer school and the regiment. His mood is not very cheerful, but he knew how difficult it would be to have a European wife. He torments himself as what he should do for the best … The husband being European is one thing, but the European wife of a Siamese man is even worse and more difficult. Apart from the weather, which is very enervating, there is the attitude of Siamese people towards such people and small actions which are not done with any malicious intent whatsoever. They are quick to pick on things and see them in the wrong light so that they can say “You think she’s great because she’s a European, but actually she did such and such wrong.”

‘I have felt like this for six years now and it has only reduced slightly recently because I have been here for a long time now. In addition, I can get on with them and I can help the poor people. I am not doing this because it is a good thing to do but to really help and people love me because I am kind hearted. But if I didn’t have money, I wouldn’t be able to show my kindness. Money is really full of significance.

‘Can you believe it that many old Siamese ladies thought that I would not return to Siam, imagining that I was heartily sick of this country. They were very pleased that I came back. This shows you that they love me, but at the same time they don’t trust me. And it will be like this for ever and there is no one who I can talk to who understands me. So that is how it goes on.

 

 

Prince Chakrabongse with Prince Thongrod who also studied in Russia.

 

Mom Ludmilla, the Russian wife of Prince Thongrod.

 

‘I am playing the piano a lot recently and I have taken up English lessons with Mr Young again. I look after my chickens and take and develop my photographs as well as reading books. To sum up I try not to waste time. Amoratat comes every Saturday and we all go off to see a film, or something like that. Saturday nights he stays with us and on Sundays we stay with our close friends. Every Thursday he and his three younger brothers come to dinner at our house and after dinner we play billiards in the new house. On other days he is not free, nor is he in Bangkok. Apart from that others who come are Phraya Boriboon Mahibal, although his wife doesn’t come much as she is always coughing. Other officers also come, but not many people come as this isn’t a time for much entertaining.