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Royal Grace of The Great King To Thai Classical Dance*

Pairoj Thongkumsuk, PhD

Fellow of the Academy of Arts,
The Royal Society of Thailand

Abstract

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the son of the Late King Rama 9 King Bhumibol
Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. Since The King was the youth,
his King Father and Queen Mother had supporting his son and daughters to study

Thai Classical Dance by establishing the Chitrada School for his children to study others
academic in Thailand including allowing the children of courtiers be able to study together.
The important idea that to be gracious in having Thai Classical Dance in school by
having the Khon, drama and dance teaching and practicing for all Chitrada students as the

same to his children who will be taught in practicing with the specialists’ teachers. His Majesty
King Maha Vajiralongkorn in being the young also receiving the Khon practicing this is the reason
he is specially interested in Khon performance. From the studying found that he works
for royal duties of Thai Classical Dance and Thai Music in many jobs by be able to classify

the great King’s roles as this followings ; - 1. The Role as the Artist 2. The Role as the Patronage
3. The Role as the Royal sponsor.

Keywords : Royal Grace, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thai Classical Dance.

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn be the son of the Late King Rama 9 King Bhumibol
Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. He was born at Amphorn Sathan
Throne Hall, Dusit Palace on the 28 July 1952 AD. (2495 BE.) when the Prince and
th
Princess grew up, the Late King Rama 9 King Bhumibol Adulyadej to be gracious in
providing the education of Kindergarten at Udon Throne Hall in Amphorn Sathan
Throne Hall, Dusit Palace that be the royal residence of the Late King Rama 9 King Bhumibol
Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and when Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana

Rajakanya got growing and be ready to study, the Late King Rama 9 King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave
the royal ordering to establish the school on 10th January 1955 AD. (2498 BE.) by having the only
first teacher in teaching be Dr. Thassanee Isarasena Na Adudhya (Lady Thassanee Boonyakupta)
and to be gracious in having the 7 classmates that be the first pioneer students of Chitrada school,

later in the month of September 1956 AD. (2499 BE.) when His Royal Highness Crown Prince

* This is an English version adapted from the article with the same title in Thai published in the book
“The Royal Institution and Academic Advancement of the Nation” (สถาบัันพระมหากษััตริย์์กับัวิิวิัฒนาการทาง
วิิชาการของประเทศ).
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