Ubolratana Rajakanya

109
Ubolratana Rajakanya bigraphy, stories - Thai princess

Ubolratana Rajakanya : biography

April 5, 1951 –

Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya of Thailand ( ; born April 5, 1951 in Lausanne, Switzerland), or full name Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi ( ), is a princess of Thailand and the eldest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Consort Sirikit. She relinquished her royal title and settled in the United States with her husband, Peter Ladd Jensen, but returned to Thailand after divorcing in 1998.

Since her return to Thailand, she has increasingly taken part in royal ceremonies, though not to the extent of her royal siblings. In 2008, she began a film career, playing the main role in the Thai film Where The Miracle Happens.

Education

Ubol Ratana attended primary to secondary levels at Chitralada School. She went to the United States for her tertiary education. She studied mathematics at MIT and Bachelor of Science Degree in biochemistry in 1973 later obtained a Master’s Degree in public health at University of California at Los Angeles.

While at M.I.T. she first met Peter Ladd Jensen, who she later married.

Film career

Ubol Ratana acted in the Thai movie "Where The Miracle Happens" (หนึ่งใจ..เดียวกัน), released in August 2008. She plays the drama’s main role of a lonely-at-the-top woman CEO who begins a life of philanthropy after the death of her only daughter. On October 2010, She played the Movie is My Best Bodyguard (มายเบสต์บอดีการ์ด) In real life the princess lost her only son in the 26 December 2004 tsunami that swept Thailand and other countries in the region.

Marriage and family

On July 25, 1972, Ubol Ratana relinquished her royal titles to marry Jensen, and then settled in the United States with her husband for over 26 years. Her husband, as a foreigner, did not receive any royal titles. After years of rumored marital problems, they divorced in 1998. Ubol Ratana and her children lived in San Diego until 2001, when they returned to Thailand.

While living in the United States, Ubol Ratana and Peter Ladd Jensen had three children: two daughters and a son, all born in the United States.

  • Khun Ploypailin Jensen (born February 12, 1981)
  • Khun Bhumi Jensen (affectionately known as Khun Poom) (August 16, 1983 – December 26, 2004) who had autism. He died in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Princess Ubol Ratana established the in his memory, to aid children with autism and other learning disabilities.
  • Khun Sirikitiya Jensen (born March 18, 1985)

While Ubolratana Rajakanya Jensen remained in the U.S., her mother Queen Sirikit and other members of the royal family often flew to the United States for visits. Ubol Ratana likewise flew to Thailand along with her husband to visit her parents and the other members of the Royal Family, while joining them and taking part in royal ceremonies with the Royal Family when she visited Thailand. She visited in 1980, 1982, 1987, 1992, and 1996, taking part in several family events, before her permanent return in 2001.

Early life

Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya is the eldest daughter and the eldest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of Thailand) and Queen Sirikit, the Queen Regent of Thailand. She was born on April 5, 1951, at Mont Suisse Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. She returned to Thailand and stayed at Ambhornsathan Throne Hall, Dusit Palace. She was styled Her Royal Highness by her father at the Royal Celebration of the first month birthday ceremony (Phra Ratchaphithi Somphot Duean Lae Khuen Phra U; พระราชพิธีสมโภชเดือนและขึ้นพระอู่) King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave her name and style Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi. Her names are derived from several royal ancestors:

  • The name Ubol Ratana comes from her maternal grandmother Mom Luang Bua Sanitvongse
  • The name Siri comes from the name of her mother, Queen Sirikit.
  • The name Vadhana comes from the name of her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Sri Savarindira (Savang Vadhana), the Queen Grandmother.

Her nickname was La Poupée, which means Doll; her parents often called her Pée.

She has taken part in royal duties since she was very young.

In 4th SEA Games in 1967 in Bangkok, the King and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya competed in sailing and won gold medals.

Royal title

Ubol Ratana was born with the titles of Her Royal Highness and Princess Chao Fa, but gave these up on her marriage to an American citizen, Peter Ladd Jensen. Her title, Chao Fa was lost because she married a commoner. She had previously held the royal title Chao Fa Ubolratana Rajakunya. She still retains the style of Tunkramom Ying, which means "Daughter to the Queen Regent". Since her return to Thailand, she has increasingly taken part in royal ceremonies, though not to the extent of her siblings.

  • Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (1951 – 1972)
  • Mrs. Ubolratana Rajakanya Jensen / Mrs. Julie Jensen (1972 – 1998)
  • Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (1998–Present)

Ancestry

Thai royal decorations

Ubol Ratana has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

  • 80px King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)

Foreign Decorations

  • 80px Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau of the Kingdom of Netherlands