Aline Claire Allard

Aline Claire Allard (December 25, 1912 – September 7, 1977) was a French Laotian diplomat and public figure. She was married to the prominent Laotian politician Souvanna Phouma from 1933 until their divorce in 1969, and she is thought to have been a major influence during his years as prime minister.

Early life, education, and career Aline Claire Allard was born in Xiangkhouang, Laos, in 1912. The country was then a French protectorate. Her father was Numa Prosper Allard, a French civil servant who served as the president of Laos' chamber of commerce and agriculture. Her mother was Laotian. In these fora, she was particularly involved in issues of hunger and of women's roles in the Third World. She also spent a period as Laos' director of international cultural relations. The couple had four children, including the political activist Mangkra Souvanna Phouma.

After her marriage, Allard became known as Princess Souvanna Phouma. Some commentators at the time considered her to be the source of Phouma's somewhat pro-Western attitudes.

Allard and Phouma divorced in 1969.

Honors From 1958 until her death, she was a member of the . Her other honors include: