The precedence of Thai royalty follows a system of ranks known as thanandon (Thai: ฐานันดร), which are accompanied by royal titles.
There are two styles which can be used for a king in ordinary speech, depending on whether he has been crowned:
Traditionally, titles of royal wives depended on their birth titles and royal favour; only princesses of high birth (Chao Fa, Phra Ong Chao and Mom Chao Ying) assuming titles higher than Chao Chom. There were no clear rules about the hierarchy of titles above Chao Chom until the time of King Mongkut, and titles changed over successive reigns.The rule about commoners also seems to be evolving, and it appears that there are no more restrictions on a commoner from becoming queen. Most of the titles below are from King Vajiravudh's 1924 enactment of the Succession Law.
| Consorts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Title | Style | Remarks | ||
| Somdet Phra Akkhara Mahesi สมเด็จพระอัครมเหสี (Queen Consort) | Somdet Phra Boromma Rajininat สมเด็จพระบรมราชินีนาถ (Queen Regent) | Somdet Phra Nang Chao + Name + Phra Boromma Rajini Nat Her Majesty, the Queen | Nat (นาถ) means "shelter", bestowed upon a Queen who has acted as regent for her husband. | ||
| Somdet Phra Boromma Rajini สมเด็จพระบรมราชินี | Somdet Phra Nang Chao + Name + Phra Boromma Rajini Her Majesty, the Queen | ||||
| Somdet Phra Rajini สมเด็จพระราชินี | Somdet Phra Rajini + Name | Temporary title before coronation | |||
| Phra Mahesi พระมเหสี (Queen & Princess Consort) | Somdet Phra Boromma Rajadevi สมเด็จพระบรมราชเทวี | Somdet Phra Nang Chao + Name + Phra Boromma Rajadevi Her Majesty, the Queen | |||
| Somdet Phra Akkhara Rajadevi สมเด็จพระอัครราชเทวี | Somdet Phra Nang Chao + Name + Phra Akkhara Rajadevi Her Majesty, the Queen | ||||
| Phra Akkhara Rajadevi พระอัครราชเทวี | Phra Nang Chao + Name + Phra Akkhara Rajadevi Her Royal Highness, Princess, Royal Consort | ||||
| Phra Vara Rajadevi พระวรราชเทวี | Phra Nang Chao + Name + Phra Vara Rajadevi Her Royal Highness, Princess, Royal Consort | ||||
| Phra Rajadevi พระราชเทวี | Phra Nang Chao + Name + Phra Rajadevi Her Royal Highness, Princess, Royal Consort | ||||
| Phra Nang Thoe พระนางเธอ | Phra Nang Thoe + Name Her Royal Highness, Princess, Royal Consort | ||||
| Phra Akkhara Chaya Thoe พระอรรคชายาเธอ | Phra Akkhara Chaya Thoe + Name Her Highness, Princess, Royal Consort | ||||
| Phra Raja Chaya Thoe พระราชชายาเธอ | Phra Raja Chaya Thoe + Name Her Highness, Princess, Royal Consort | ||||
| Phra Sanom พระสนม (Consort) | Chao Khun Phra เจ้าคุณพระ Royal Noble | Chao Khun Phra + Name | Appointed to * Foreign princess * Mom Chao (Her Serene Highness, Princess) * Mom Rajawongse * Mom Luang * Commoners During pregnancy, known as Chao Chom Manda, Manda means "mother" Phra was used during Rama VI's reign | ||
| Chao Khun Chom Manda เจ้าคุณจอมมารดา Noble | Chao Khun Chom Manda + Name | ||||
| Chao Chom Manda เจ้าจอมมารดา Noble | Chao Chom Manda + Name | ||||
| Chom Manda จอมมารดา Front Palace | Chom Manda + Name | ||||
| Chao Chom เจ้าจอม | Chao Chom + Name | - | Phra พระ Lady | Phra + Name | |
Holders of these titles are still considered royal, since they are (at most) two generations removed from a king. Nai Luang (ในหลวง) is an epithet for a king.[2] Children of a king are called Luk Luang (ลูก หลวง "royal children"), and grandchildren of a king are called Laan Luang (หลาน Thai: หลวง "royal grandchildren"). The concept is similar to the French system of "princes of the blood" and the Iberian system of "infantes." In English, they are normally called "prince" or "princess". Special forms are used when one wishes to address them, although the language is less elaborate than when speaking to the king or the queen. A male Luk Luang who does not accede to the throne would assume a new royal surname, normally reflecting his birth name (as opposed to an honorific given later). The surname can be used by his wife if she is a commoner by birth, possibly with Na Ayudhya added if she has no noble title. It is otherwise not normally used until his children (or grandchildren) first hold the title of Mom Chao, when the surname will first appear in their names.
| Rank | Title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai | English | ||
| Somdet Chao Fa | Somdet Phra Anujadhiraj / Somdet Phra Kanitthadhiraj | His Royal Highness, The Hereditary Prince / Her Royal Highness, The Hereditary Princess | Elevated to "Heir Apparent" by Rama VI Higher than the other royal family; for example, Elevated for "Princess Royal" by Rama X |
| Somdet Chao Fa Special Class | His Royal Highness, Prince | ||
| Somdet Phra Chao Borommawong Thoe Chao Fa First Class | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For a sovereign's children with:
| |
| Somdet Phra Chao Borommawong Thoe Chao Fa Second Class | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For a sovereign's children with:
| |
| Phra Ong Chao Special Class | Somdet Phra Chao Borommawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For a sovereign's children with:
|
| Phra Ong Chao First Class | Phra Chao Baromwongse Thoe Phra Ong Chao | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For a sovereign's children with:
|
| Rank | Title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai | English | ||
| Special Class | Phra Chao Rajvorawongse Ther Chao Fa (พระเจ้าราชวรวงศ์เธอ เจ้าฟ้า) | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For Viceroy's children with a royal consort who is a princess |
| Phra Ong Chao | Phra Chao Rajvorawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระเจ้าราชวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of Viceroys |
| Phra Rajvorawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระราชวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of Wichaichan | |
| Rank | Title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai | English | ||
| Special Class | Somdet Phra Chao Lanh Ther Chao Fa (สมเด็จพระเจ้าหลานเธอ เจ้าฟ้า) | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of the sovereign's daughters or the sovereign's sisters with a prince. They are the third class of Chao Fa. |
| Phra Ong Chao | Phra Chao Lanh Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระเจ้าหลานเธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of the sovereign's sons (First Class) with a princess or royal consort. After their grandfather's reign, their title changes to Phra Chao Voravongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระเจ้าวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) |
| Phra Lanh Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระหลานเธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | His Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of:
After their grandfather's reign, their title changes to Phra Voravongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | |
| Phra Sambandhawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระสัมพันธวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | His Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of Prince Matayabitaksa, maternal grandfather of Rama V | |
| Mom Chao | Mom Chao (หม่อมเจ้า) | His Serene Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of the sovereign's sons with a commoner |
| Rank | Title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai | English | ||
| Chao Fa | Somdet Phra Sambhandhawongse Ther Chao Fa (สมเด็จพระสัมพันธวงศ์เธอ เจ้าฟ้า) | His Royal Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of Rama I's eldest sisters; Princess Debsudavadi and Princess Sri Sudaraksha |
| Phra Ong Chao | Phra Prabhandhawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระประพันธวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | His Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of deputy viceroy Anuraksha Deveshra with a royal consort |
| Mom Chao | Mom Chao (หม่อมเจ้า) | His Serene Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of:
|
| Rank | Title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai | English | ||
| Phra Ong Chao | Phra Wongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (พระวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) | His Highness, Prince (Princess) | For the Viceroy's grandchildren who is in officials. |
| Mom Chao | Mom Chao (หม่อมเจ้า) | His Serene Highness, Prince (Princess) | For the Viceroy's grandchildren |
| Rank | Title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai | English | ||
| Mom Chao | Mom Chao (หม่อมเจ้า) | His Serene Highness, Prince (Princess) | For children of the sovereign's grandchildren in the class of Phra Chao Lanh Thor Phra Ong Chao (HRH, Prince) |
| Mom Rajawongse | Mom Rajawongse (หม่อมราชวงศ์) | His Excellency/His Grace | For children of the sovereign's grandchildren in the class of Phra Lanh Thor Phra Ong Chao (HH Prince) and Mom Chao (HSH Prince). They are not members of the royal family. |
More distant royal progeny, starting from the children of male Mom Chao, are considered commoners. However, these commoners have titles indicating that their ancestry can be traced back to a king.
Mom Rajawongse (หม่อมราชวงศ์, ; abbreviated in Thai as ม.ร.ว. and in English as M. R. and translated as "His/Her Excellency") is the title assumed by children of male Mom Chao M.C.(English) M.C. After first name Informally, they may be called Khun Chai (male) or Khun Ying (female) (Thai: คุณชาย.../คุณหญิง...). Holders of this title are occasionally erroneously referred to as princes or princesses in older English documents; it is now more common to use the correct title, "Mom Rajawongse". If a specific title is appended, sometimes the titular may be called His/Her Grace by proclamation of the King or a Prince-Regent, but not by a Queen-regent or any royal member sitting in the King's capacity as a Councillor-of-State.
Mom Luang (หม่อมหลวง, abbreviated in Thai ม.ล. and sometimes in English as M. L. and translated as "The Honourable") are the last royal descendants retaining a title. Mom Luang titles are conferred on children of male Mom Rajawongse. Colloquially (although incorrectly), they are sometimes addressed as "Mom"; the correct informal address is "Khun" (Thai: คุณ).
In the Family Name Act, B. E. 2465, Rama VI ordered that royal descendants who do not hold any title should append "na Ayudhya" (ณ อยุธยา) to their surname to signify they are descended from a royal bloodline. Sometime spelled "Na Ayutthaya".
Wives of princes have titles, depending on the titles on both sides.
Phra Vorachaya (Thai: พระวรชายา) is a title of the royal consort of the Crown Prince. She is elevated to Phra Chao Vorawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao.
Phra Chaya (Thai: พระชายา) is a princess, Chao Fa (HRH Princess) or Phra Ong Chao (HRH Princess) who is married to prince, at every level. She retains her own title. When referring to her as a wife of the prince, she may be called "Phra Chaya Nai (husband's name)".
Chaya (ชายา) is a princess or Mom Chao (HSH Princess) who is married to prince, at every level. Again, she would retain her own title. When referring to her as a wife of the prince, she may be called "Chaya Nai (husband's name)".
Mom (หม่อม), in this context, is a commoner married to a prince. She uses this title as a prefix of her name, adding na Ayudhya to her new surname; for example, Mom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayudhya (a wife of Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn, whose surname is Mahidol). If she has her own title (Mom Rajawongse or Mom Luang), she retains it.
The son of a holder of the following titles generally inherits a title one step below; a female Mom Rajawongse married to a commoner would produce a child with no title. According to the Royal Marriages Act, B. E. 2475, a princess wishing to marry to a commoner must request royal permission and abandon her royal title. For example, if princess Chao Fa, HRH Princess of Thailand, wished to marry a Mom Rajawongse commoner she would lose her royal title (Chao Fa, HRH Princess of Thailand) but retain royal style as follows:
However, Chao Fa Chulabhorn Walailak received permission from the king to keep her title when she married commoner Virayudh Tishyasarin.
In addition to royal ranks and titles, royals may also receive noble titles in the style of the nobility. These are referred to as krom (Thai: กรม) titles. While the granting of noble titles ceased with the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, on very rare occasions the king may still grant an honorary noble title to a royal.
The noble title, which consists of a rank and a title, is appended to the royal name and title, prefixed with the word krom (pronounced kromma when forming part of the title). For example, the full title of the King's sister is "Somdej Phra Chao Pheenang Ther Chao Fa Galyani Vadhana Kromma Luang Narathivat Rajanakarin. Nevertheless, it is the princely title which will be more frequently omitted when contracting the title e.g. Somdej Phra Chao Boromawong Ther Kromma Phraya Damrong Rajanubhab (born Phra Ong Chao Disuankumaan).[3] There are 5 feudal titles for prince/princess:
The ranks of royal peerage are:
HRH Prince Maha Sura Singhanat, Viceroy of Rama I
His Royal Highness Prince Manuṣyanāgamānob, The Prince Vajirananavarorasa, Son of Rama IV
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, The Princess Srisavangvadhana, Daughter of Rama IX and Sister of Rama X
Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, The Princess Rajasarini Siribajra, Daughter of Rama X
His Royal Highness Prince Jayanta Mongkol, The Prince Mahisara Rajaharudaya, Son of Rama IV
Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, The Princess Suddhanarinatha, Mother of the First Child of Rama X
Since the time of King Chulalongkorn, the honorific titles given to the royalties normally incorporate a city name or its modified form, and the holders are known in English as the Prince or Princess of that city.
The sovereign may grant titles to other royal-family members: