The Conferment of Royal Ranks and Titles on Female Members of the Royal Family

A Temporary Exhibition at the King Prajadhipok Museum, February 24-May 30,2007

    This unusual Exhibition is organised in response to public interest in the Royal Family and the less well known aspects of Court life. Dealing especially with the conferment of royal ranks and titles on Feamale members of The Royal Family, it provides a vista into the  little known world of the Inner Court of the Grand Palace, usually known to Westerners as 'the Forbidden city'.

The Exhibition opens in February,the month of the Coronation in 1926 of H.M.King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) on which occasion his only consort, H.M. Rambhai Barni, was elevated in royal rank and conferred the Title of Her Majesty the Queen. The opening was graciously presided over by H.R.H. Princess Somsavali who was elevated to royal status and conferred titles in the present reign. She is also a granddaughter of personages closely associated with H.M. King Prajadhipok and H.M. Queen Rambhai Barni as well as with Their present Majesties the King and Queen.

                                                         History

           The conferment by the King of royal ranks on members of the Royal Family is a practice which dates from the Ayudhaya period. Such conferments involve elevations in royal ranks above those ascribed at birth, conferments of royal statuses and ranks on commoners who became Royal Family members as well as conferments of titles, such as 'Krom' of variouslevels and under othernomenclatures, somewhat comparable to earls and dukes in British system. Females were so conferred and elevated lessnumerouslly than males but in ways similar to and on the par with males. Today, Knowledge about these is wanting and a matter of some interest and curiosity.