Galyani Vadhana was a direct granddaughter of King Chulalongkorn, and aunt of King Vajiralongkorn.
43 Facts About Galyani Vadhana
2.
Galyani Vadhana was born on 6 May 1923 in London, England, the only daughter of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla, the 69th son of King Chulalongkorn and seventh son by Queen Savang Vadhana, and Sangwan Talapat.
3.
In 1935, Galyani Vadhana attended a secondary school for girls named Ecole Superieure des Jeunes Filles de la Ville de Lausanne.
4.
Galyani Vadhana was an excellent student, and eventually came first of her school at the final exam and third in all Switzerland.
5.
In 1942, Galyani Vadhana continued her studies in chemistry at the University of Lausanne.
6.
Galyani Vadhana graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry in 1948.
7.
In 1944, Galyani Vadhana renounced her royal status in order to marry Colonel Aram Rattanakul Serireongrit, the son of General Luang Serireongrit, a former Army commander-in-chief who led the invasion of the Shan States during World War II.
8.
In 1969, Galyani Vadhana married Prince Varananda Dhavaj, son of Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok, Prince of Bejraburna and Mom Ravi Kayananda.
9.
Galyani Vadhana was president or honorary president of various organisations and foundations, including the Cardiac Children's Foundation, the Princess Mother's Charity Fund, and the Autistic Foundation of Thailand.
10.
Galyani Vadhana created her own foundation for funding the studies of young, gifted musicians.
11.
Galyani Vadhana was a patron of various classical music foundations.
12.
Galyani Vadhana traveled widely within Thailand and abroad to represent the royal family and her country on missions.
13.
Galyani Vadhana was admitted to Siriraj Hospital in June 2007, suffering from abdominal pains.
14.
In October 2007, doctors reported that Galyani Vadhana had suffered an infarction on the left side of her brain as a result of occlusion of a cerebral artery.
15.
On 2 January 2008, the Royal Household Bureau announced that Galyani Vadhana's condition had worsened during the night of 1 January and she had died at 02:54 on 2 January, at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, aged 84.
16.
The six-day ceremony and ritual started on 14 November 2008 at the Grand Palace and ended on 19 November when Galyani Vadhana's ashes were transferred to the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial, Wat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram.
17.
Galyani Vadhana liked reading and writing from an early age.
18.
Galyani Vadhana found that reading developed her French language skills.
19.
Galyani Vadhana studied art, culture, archaeology, and history for many years.
20.
When Galyani Vadhana was nine, she published a journal, Ruaen Rom, containing articles she had written with her friends at Srapathum Palace.
21.
Galyani Vadhana's mother supported her in reading and writing English.
22.
Galyani Vadhana had learned to take photographs not only as souvenirs but for art and academic purposes.
23.
Galyani Vadhana was interested in all types of music and drama, especially classical music by master composers.
24.
Galyani Vadhana began listening to classical music while studying in Switzerland.
25.
Galyani Vadhana had studied piano at home with her younger brothers, but only intermittently as she had very little time to practice.
26.
In 2004, concerned about both the government's and the private sector's lack of interest in promoting classical music, Galyani Vadhana established a Fund for Classical Music Promotion, of which she became president.
27.
Galyani Vadhana supported the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and the Chulalongkorn University Symphony Orchestra and was the patron of the Bangkok Opera.
28.
Galyani Vadhana was interested in all education, not only at universities.
29.
Galyani Vadhana believed that primary education is very important for developing the general population.
30.
Galyani Vadhana was president of the association between 1977 and 1981, when she became its honorary president for the rest of her life.
31.
Galyani Vadhana was interested in history and archaeology for many years.
32.
Galyani Vadhana thought these fields to be the foundations of other subjects and believed in applying reasoning to support historical ideas.
33.
Galyani Vadhana always said that her thoughts were not always correct and she would accept new data if supported by reason and evidences.
34.
Galyani Vadhana led groups and associations on educational tours to many historic sites, and she advised fellow guides to emphasize education about the sites.
35.
Galyani Vadhana added some of her personal property to her mother's fund provided personal advice, thus developing its activities.
36.
Galyani Vadhana was president, while her mother was patron and honorary president.
37.
Galyani Vadhana set up "The Mother Princess Medical Volunteer Unit" on 22 February 1969, and persuaded doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses to join the unit to go and treat patients in remote communities.
38.
Galyani Vadhana followed her mother's example in the foundation's daily operations.
39.
In 1991, Galyani Vadhana visited and stayed at Huai Nam Dang Watershed Management Unit.
40.
Galyani Vadhana found that the nearby forests were deteriorated as a result of agricultural reclamation, so she had the idea of forming a Royal Forest Department to restore the forests.
41.
Galyani Vadhana's thinking was that the public and local administration organization co-operate to look after forest, water, wildlife, and rare flora to maintain natural balance.
42.
Galyani Vadhana traveled abroad many times on formal and private visits.
43.
Later when Galyani Vadhana was bestowed the title Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra, the hospital board requested the Ministry of Public Health to give the new hospital a name, and the king named it "Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital" on 28 February 1997.