National Artist and culinary expert MR Thanadsri Svasti spent some years in his childhood with Their Majesties King Rama VIII and King Rama IX at Sra Pathum Palace. Upon hearing of the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, he went quiet and lifted his hands and arms to do a wai over his head to pay respect. MR Thanadsri, 90, still retains impressive stories about the two kings. Following is an excerpt of MR Thanadsri Svasti's lecture entitled "The Princess Mother I Knew", delivered at Srinakharinwirot University on August 22, 2000; MR Thanadsri's "The Life Beyond Description", an interview with Manager Magazin [sic], May 2004; and past conversations with his relatives and friends.
"I was one of their servants because the royal tradition forbids us from calling kings our relatives," said MR Thanadsri. "King Rama IV and Chao Khun Jom Marnda Piam [one of his wives] had six children -- HRH Prince Unakan Anantanorachai, HRH Prince Devan Uthaivongse [founder of the Devakula Family], Her Majesty Queen Sunandha Kumariratana, Her Majesty Queen Savang Vadhana [The Queen Grandmother], Her Majesty Queen Saovabha Phongsri, and the youngest, HRH Prince Svasti, who is my grandfather. So, I called the Queen Grandmother, who is HM the King's grandmother, "Great Aunt". This fact is undeniable.
"The Queen Grandmother supported me since I was three days old. I was born at Phetchabun Palace and was taken to her palace [Sra Prathum]. I had up to two nannies there. When I came to the palace, the Princess Mother already had three children -- HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, HM King Rama VIII and His Majesty King Bhumibol. I was among them and served them since I could remember.
"When I grew up, I realised she did not spoil her children at all. I was always treated fairly even when I played with the palace owner's grandchildren, though I am of a much lower position.
"The daily routine of us, the children, was not complicated -- just playing and having fun day after day. King Rama VIII and I were the same age, while King Rama IX, who was little, liked to run after us and play whatever we played. I was a very naughty kid. The palace had two big ponds. I could swim since the age of three.
"One day, I was swimming happily and the two kings really wanted to swim, but were not allowed. So, they told me to swim and they liked to watch me swim for a long time every afternoon. In the afternoon, they rode a horse. They liked horses and had a medium-sized horse. The horse raiser, named Nai Tan, would walk this horse for King Rama VIII to ride and King Rama IX would sit behind him. Nai Tan would walk the horse to the front of Phra Tamnak Yai, where there was a zoo. The horse would stop in front of a monkey cage for the two kings to feed the monkey, which would keep bananas in its cheeks. That's probably why His Majesty the King called his reservoir project the Monkey's Cheeks. While they were riding the horse, I was scared because I'm afraid of horses. They were very happy to see Nai Tan walk the horse fast to chase me until I had nowhere to run away and had to jump into the water ...
"Whenever they wanted toys on the shelves in Phra Tamnak Yai (the main royal mansion), their servants [were] not to bring the toys for them. They must bring the toys down and put them back on the shelves themselves. They must not order anyone to do it for them. This was how the Princess Mother raised them in the way called down-to-earth. They had no special privileges and must not bully anyone. Everyone was treated the same way, including when being punished.
"I lived happily there and served them until 1933, after the Revolution. When the three royals departed for Switzerland, I was left alone in the palace."
MR Thanadsri regularly received both young kings' used yet still-good cloths from the Princess Mother for use and later shared this apparel with his younger brother, MR Permsri Svasti. He and his family have always felt very grateful to the Royal Family for their kindness and support.
