Thailand: The Royal Wedding, 28 April 1950

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Special Report:The Royal Wedding, 28 April 1950

Following the royal cremation of King Ananda Mahidol, performed in full royal honor in accordance with ancient court tradition, the Bureau of the Royal Household received the royal command to prepare two royal ceremonies, the Royal Wedding Ceremony on 28 April 1950 and the Royal Coronation Ceremony on 5 May. The Royal Coronation Ceremony was scheduled from 4 to 8 May, with 5 May as the day of the coronation, and the elevation of the royal consort as the queen.

Through the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary, King Bhumibol Adulyadej commanded Mr. Khuang Abhaiwongse, a Bangkok MP; M.R. Seni Pramoj, a Bangkok MP; Mr. Kasem Boonsri, House Speaker and Nakhon Sawan MP; and Mr. Yoksiang Hemabhuti, a Ranong MP, to represent the Thai people in presenting the consecrated water to the royal couple. The Senate, meanwhile, was represented by Phraya Udom Phongphensawat, Lieutenant General Phraya Wichit Wongwutthikrai, Lieutenant General Phraya Srisoraratbhakdi, and Phraya Atcharat Songsiri.

On Friday, 28 April 1950, the entire Thai nation was full of hope and thoroughly inspired by the fairy-tale function, the first royal wedding held in the new democratic era. The local press was awash with reports on the official function and various related facts. It was mentioned that M.R. Sirikit Kitiyakara, the royal fianc?e, who, since her arrival back in Bangkok, was staying at her parents’ residence, Devavesm Palace, would be dressed in light blue, the color of her day of birth, a Friday.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in his full-dressed, white uniform, arrived at Sapathum Palace and waited in the reception hall of the new wing. At the same time, M.R. Sirikit Kitiyakara was conducted by her parents to another reception hall. The bride was in a long, silk, Thai dress, in ivory color, with a golden brocade skirt, wearing the sash of the Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, granted earlier on 26 April. At 09.30 hr, M.R. Sirikit was led by her father into an audience with the King. There, they were presented with a marriage registration book by the Minister of Interior. The King signed his name first, followed by M.R. Sirikit, with her father, His Serene Highness Prince Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara, signing his consent, as M.R. Sirikit was then a minor. Witnesses then signed their names in the book, similar to a normal registration book, specially produced by Khana Chang Company Limited, the cover made of yellow lambskin, embossed with the royal standard, with a red royal garuda and gold lettering, bound in brown leather. The book was made in two editions, the original one and an exact copy, both of which were signed.

Thereafter, the couple proceeded to the ceremonial room in the royal residential quarter, for an audience with the Queen Grandmother, Queen Savang Vadhana of the Fifth Reign, during the auspicious time 10.24-12.10 hr. They presented traditional tribute-paying items to the Queen Grandmother, who sprinkled consecrated water and gave them blessings in accordance with the ancient court tradition. The Queen Grandmother then anointed the foreheads of the King and his bride, and spoke kindly to the young bride, reminding her to turn and smile to those attending the function outside. The royal couple returned to the reception hall, where royals, the Prime Minister, the Senate Speaker, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives formed two reception lines in waiting. King Bhumibol Adulyadej granted permission to the Royal Scribe to read the announcement instating M.R. Sirikit as Queen Sirikit. Following the announcement, the King bestowed upon his Queen the highest royal decoration, the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri.

After the royal wedding ceremony, royals and relatives presented gifts to the royal couple. They, in turn, gave well-wishers a souvenir, a miniature silver box inscribed with their initials on the cover.

A grand audience was later granted that afternoon, in the Phaisan Thaksin Throne Hall, with royals in the audience, and later in the Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall, with high-ranking officials and members of the diplomatic corps. Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram, the then Prime Minister, offered felicitations on behalf of all in the grand audience, expressing their great joy on the occasion, and offering their best wishes for the royal couple’s long and prosperous lives together. A private banquet was given that evening for close relatives and members of the royal entourage, no more than 20 persons in total.

The next morning, Saturday, 29 April 1950, the King and Queen traveled by train to Klai Kangwol Palace in Hua Hin. They were greeted by loyal subjects all the way from Bangkok to Hua Hin, at the railway station, and in Hua Hin itself. Throughout their three-day sojourn, the Royal Thai Navy provided a royal guard comprising four royal warships, HMS Bang Pakong, HMS Bang Kaeo, HMS Bang Rachan, and HMS Pho Sam Ton. The royal couple soon returned to Bangkok for the Royal Coronation Ceremony, from 4 to 8 May 1950.

-- NNT 2010-04-28

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