The 1924 Palace Law of Succession (Thai: กฏมณเฑียรบาลว่าด้วยการสืบราชสันตติวงศ์ พ.ศ. 2467) governs succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Thailand, under the ruling House of Chakri. The law was established during the reign of King Vajiravudh to systematically resolve previous succession controversies. The 1997 Constitution of Thailand relied on the law with regards to succession, but the 2006 Interim Constitution made no mention of succession, leaving it to "constitutional practice." The 2007 Constitution again relied on the Palace Law with regards to succession.
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The law in historical practice
King Chulalongkorn and his first three queens produced seven sons with the princely rank of Chao Fa (Thai: เจ้าฟ้า; "sky lord" or "celestial prince"): five by Queen Saowabha, including Prince Vajiravudh; one by Queen Savang Vadhana, and one by Queen Sukumala. Overall the King had 97 Children, including 76 sons (however of lesser number survived into adulthood).
None of King Vajiravudh's four princely brothers by Queen Saowabha produced a royal-blooded male heir. One son produced an heir with a maid. Another son produced an heir with a foreign wife (Mom Katya). Children of foreign wives were barred from the succession in section 11 of the Palace Law.
Furthermore, three of the brothers died, leaving only Prince Prajadhipok. Vajiravudh had only a daughter, and Prajadhipok was childless.
Queen Savang Vadhana had only one surviving son, H.R.H. Prince Mahidol, who in turn had a son, H.S.H. Prince Ananda Mahidol, the King Rama VII, on 20 September 1925 with Mom Sangwalya or Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani the Princess Mother. Prince Mahidol had another son on 5 December 1927, Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej who is the current king of Thailand.
Queen Sukumala produced only one son, H.R.H. Prince Paripatra. H.R.H. Prince Paripatra had one son, H.S.H. Prince Chumbhotpong Paripatra, by a royal wife and another son, H.S.H. Prince Sukhumbhinanda, by a commoner wife. Both of them were already dead.
The law based on the principle of male primogeniture, with first in line being the eldest son of the previous monarch and second in line being the next-oldest son, and so on. The law expressly ruled against women ascending the throne (this clause was abrogated in later constitutions).
According to the Palace Law, Prince Prajadhipok (second eldest surviving son of the previous monarch, King Chulalongkorn, via the bloodline of Queen Saovabha, the most senior queen) became first in line to the succession. H.R.H. Prince Mahidol became second in line (although older than Prajadhipok, he was son of Queen Savang Vadhana, a more junior queen). Third and fourth in line would be H.R.H. Prince Mahidol's sons: first H.S.H. Prince Ananda Mahidol, then H.S.H. Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej. Last in line would have been H.R.H. Prince Paripatra, although this is unlikely given he has been in exile since 1932.
This line of succession was followed, with H.R.H. Prince Prajadhipok succeeding King Vajiravudh after he died on 26 November 1925. The absolute monarchy was overthrown on 24 June 1932, but the new constitution continued to rely on the Palace Law regarding matters of succession. Thus, H.S.H. Prince Ananda Mahidol, the eldest heir of H.R.H. Prince Mahidol succeeded the sonless King Prajadhipok after he abdicated on 2 March 1935. H.S.H. Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej succeeded the unmarried young King Ananda Mahidol after he was assassinated on 9 June 1946.
The law today
The 1997 constitution of Thailand, like most preceding Thai constitutions, continued to rely on the Palace Law with regards to succession. However, the 2006 Interim Constitution does not contain any articles regarding succession, and instead, left it to "constitutional practice." Sections 22 and 23 of the 2007 Constitution dealing with succession again relied on the Palace Law.
The heir apparent to the Thai throne is Prince Vajiralongkorn, eldest and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Prince Vajiralongkorn has many sons The Thai constitution was amended in 1974 to allow the Privy Council to appoint a princess as successor to the throne. However this would only occur in the absence of an heir apparent. This amendment is retained in Section 23 of the 1997 "People's Constitution." This effectively signaled Princess Sirindhorn as second in line to the throne, but did not affect Prince Vajiralongkorn's status as heir apparent.
Recent constitutions of Thailand have made the amendment of the Palace Law of Succession the sole prerogative of the reigning King. According to Gothom Arya, noted public intellectual, this allows the reigning king, if he so chooses, to appoint his son or any of his daughters to the Throne.
Possible line of succession
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The current line of Succession is:
- H.R.H. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (Son and the heir apparent of King Rama Ix, the current king)
- H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (The second daughter of King Rama IX and younger sister of No.1. She was officially promoted as “Somdet Phra Theprat Ratsuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Ratthasima Khunakon Piyachat Sayam Borommaratchakumari” and to be the second in line to the throne on December 5, 1977 since then.[1] [2] Her royal title in Thai language contains the word 'Crown Princess' which is almost equivalent to her brother. But in English language, she is styled 'Her Royal Highness' and is equivalent to the British title of The Princess Royal. The word 'Crown Princess' can not be styled in English, because in worldwide tradition, in case of the Crown Prince was styled in the country, it is restrictly used for the formal wife of Crown Prince only.
- H.R.H Princess Chulabhorn Valailak (Youngest daughter of King Rama IX)
References
- ^ http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/สมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดาฯ_สยามบรมราชกุมารี
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirindhorn
- Aryan, Gothan (September 15-September 16, 2004), Thai Monarchy, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Retrieved on 5 July 2006, presented in Kathmandu, Nepal
- Paul M. Handley, "The King Never Smiles" Yale University Press: 2006, ISBN 0-300-10682-3
- Paul Handley, What the Thai coup was really about, 6 November 2006
- The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (1997), Section 20
See also
- Monarchy of Thailand
- Constitution of Thailand
- Bhumibol Adulyadej
- Ananda Mahidol
- Prajadhipok
- Privy Council of Thailand
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