Background
He was the first son of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Savang Vadhana.
He was the first son of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Savang Vadhana.
In 1886, after the death of the last Vice King Bovorn Vichaichan, King Chulalongkorn chose not to appoint one of his brothers as a new Vice King, but instead appointed his eldest son as the Crown Prince of Siam.
On January 14, 1886, he was officially introduced to his position with the title of Sayam Makutrajakuman, or Crown Prince of Siam. King Chulalongkorn"s second son, Prince Vajiravudh, was then named crown prince, and succeeded him as Rama VI in 1910. The King built the Prince his own palace, nicknamed Windsor Palace.
The European-style palace was demolished after his death.
The site is currently the National Stadium of Thailand. Prince Vajirunhis was interested in the liberal arts, writing daily in a diary he was given by his father at the age of five.
He wrote many poems. One, written for his father on October 25, 1888, is below:
1878–1886: His Royal Highness Prince Maha Vajirunhis
1886–1895: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis.