Thailand’s Princess Soamsawali, 61, has been named a UNAids Goodwill Ambassador for HIV Prevention in Asia and the Pacific. An appointment ceremony was held at Bangkok’s King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital on Saturday, 22 June.
Shannon Hader, UNAids Deputy Executive Director of Programme and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, said, “I would like to recognise all HRH Princess Soamsawali Krom Muen Suddhanarinatha has done and continues to do to provide HIV prevention services to the most vulnerable populations.”
Her Royal Highness is the patron of several Thai Red Cross Society programmes which relate to HIV and AIDs. She has been known for her tireless work in the country regarding research on AIDS.
It is because of this work that she was appointed a UNAids Goodwill Ambassador.
(The Princess above in 2010).
The Princess has been dealing with health issues for a while and has suffered two strokes this year – one in February and another in May.
She was last seen in early May when her former husband gave members of the Royal Family new titles in honour of his coronation. She was seen attending in a wheelchair and was practically motionless.
Princess Soamsawali is the eldest child of Mom Rajawongse Adulyakit Kitiyakara and Princess Bandhu Savali Yugala. Her father was the elder brother of Queen Sirikit of Thailand. On 3 January 1977, she married her first cousin, the current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and she became known as Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, Royal Consort of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. Their only child, Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand, was born on 7 December 1978. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1991. After the divorce, her former father-in-law granted her a new title, Phravararajatinuddamat, meaning the mother of the King’s first grandchild. She still performs royal duties on behalf of the King and has shown an interest in public health and social welfare.
