Born on July 4, 1957, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn is the youngest daughter of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. She has two daughters, HRH Princess Siribhachudhabhorn and HRH Princess Adityadhornkitikhun.
Princess Chulabhorn graduated from the Faculty of Science and Arts at Kasetsart University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organic Chemistry, First Class Honors, in 1979, following with a doctorate in 1985, being awarded a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Organic Chemistry from Mahidol University in July of that year, capping off a record of excellent academic achievement.
Pattaya Mail Media on July 4 joins the Kingdom in humbly wishing a Happy Birthday to a most remarkable person, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn. (Photo courtesy Bureau of the Royal Household)
In 1986, she was appointed as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in London and was awarded the Einstein Gold Medal by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The following year, she undertook post-doctoral studies in Germany, and has since been a visiting professor at universities in Japan, Germany, and the United States, as well as holding Honorary Doctorates from many universities around the world.
Her Royal Highness is chairperson of the Working Group on the Chemistry of Natural Products, a collaborative program between the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science and the National Research Council of Thailand.
HRH the Princess has received international recognition for her scientific accomplishments, resulting in her appointment to various United Nations posts, namely special advisor to the United Nations Environment Program and member of the Special High-Level Council for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of the United Nations.
As a result of her experience as a scientist, HRH the Princess became aware of the difficulties Thai researchers have in obtaining the necessary funding for their research and so, in 1987, she established the Chulabhorn Research Institute to provide a new fund-raising agency for such research.
This institute now acts as a focal point for the exchange of intellectual and other resources in Thailand, for the purpose of solving urgent problems confronting the country in areas of health, environment, and agriculture.
As president of the Chulabhorn Research Institute, HRH the Princess currently directs many special research projects, including the AIDS program; a program on restoration and integrated development of the flood-affected areas in Southern Thailand; seawater irrigation for cultivation of economic marine species and preservation of the mangrove forests; a rabies eradication program, with a special project for accelerated immunization in five southern provinces in Thailand; the Light for Life Foundation for Epilepsy, Chulalongkorn Comprehensive Epilepsy Program; Tabtim Siam Secondary School in Surin province; and the ‘Voice of Dhamma for the Public’ Radio Station in Udon Thani province.
Through these programs HRH the Princess plays an auspicious role in improving the environment and living standards of the villagers in a number of Thai provinces.
This past year has been most eventful for HRH Princess Chulabhorn, both good and not so good. Back in October, 2010, HRH the Princess underwent a successful operation, and during her stay to recover at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, representatives of various agencies wished her good health and a speedy recovery. In December 2010, HRH the Princess broke a thigh bone, requiring more surgery. Again, much to the relief of Thai citizens, the surgery was successful, although recovery is ongoing. Finally, in May this year, HRH the Princess was slightly hurt in an auto accident in Jerusalem.
On a happier note, HRH the Princess was able to travel this past year, beginning with a royal visit to the Republic of Korea in August 2010 where she delivered the inaugural speech at the 2010 Joint Conference of International Society of Exposure Science & International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. Her Royal Highness also gave a lecture on “Cancer Risk from Exposure to Air Pollution” by invitation from the president of the National Institute of Environmental Research, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea and co-chair of the Organizing Committee of International Society of Exposure Science & International Society for Environmental Epidemiology.
In May this year, HRH Princess Chulabhorn made her sixth visit to Israel, this time to promote bilateral cooperation in science research. A qualified epileptologist (a neurologist who treats epilepsy), HRH the Princess is heavily involved in promoting scientific research and is a guest lecturer in chemistry at Mahidol University in Bangkok. She was the first Asian invited to join Britain’s Royal Society of Chemistry as an Honorary Fellow.
On June 9, 2011, HRH Princess Chulabhorn visited St. Petersburg, Russia, where she was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the St. Petersburg State University at an official ceremony.
Also in Russia, on June 13 HRH Princess Chulabhorn became the 25th recipient of the Honorary Doctor’s Degree from the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (MUCTR). In the institute’s 50 years, the honorary doctor’s degree has only been granted to 24 others, including former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. A day earlier, HRH the Princess was also conferred with the N.D. Zelinsky award by the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (ZIOC) established this year to mark the 150th birthday of its founder, Nikolay Dimitrievich Zelinsky. This special prize is awarded only to those who bring an outstanding contribution to the development of chemical science, engineering and education. Director of the ZIOC Prof M P Egorov said HRH Princess Chulabhorn was selected to be the first recipient of the prize because of her outstanding achievements in chemistry which have been applied to educational and environmental development of Thailand.
Back home in Thailand, in April this year HRH the Princess gave an interview to Channel 9 TV, during which HRH the Princess said she doesn’t want to be involved in politics, but that, “I know that what happened last year, when the country was burnt … brought great sorrow to Their Majesties the King and Queen. … HM the Queen said that it was even sadder than when our country, Ayutthaya, was burnt by the Burmese because this time it was done by the Thais ourselves. … Being divisive is not good for the country. We should try to talk. Don’t use violence. Divisiveness and blocking roads makes traffic jams, and people are moody. I do not side with anyone, or any color.”
Responding as she does to international needs during times of trouble, on April 12, 2001, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn graciously donated 4.64 million baht in cash, plus plastic containers, torches with batteries and drinking water to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Seiji Kojima at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to assist victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Thank you HRH Princess Chulabhorn for your lifetime of dedication.
All of us at the Pattaya Mail Media Group join the entire Kingdom in wishing Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn a Most Happy 54th Birthday on the fourth of July 2010.
