Nakkhatra Mangala, 2nd Prince of Chanthaburi

Prince Nakkhatra Mangala, 2nd Prince of Chanthaburi (4 January 1898 – 11 February 1953) was the eldest son of Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana, the 1st Prince of Chanthaburi and Princess Apsarasaman Kitiyakara. He was the father of Queen Sirikit, father in-law of late Thai king King Bhumibol Adulyadej and maternal grandfather of the current King Vajiralongkorn. His birth name was His Serene Highness Prince Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara, and his style and title was His Highness Prince Nakkhatra Mangala since 1950 when his daughter became queen.

Education Prince Nakkhatra Mangala received primary education at the royal palace, then studied at the King's College under the royal patronage. Until 1910, he studied at the Royal Thai Army Cadet Academy.

In 1911, he went to study in England being a student under the Ministry of Defence in 1914, attending high school in France until receiving the Baccalauréat certificate in both areas in science. He then attended the French cadet academy École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr where he received the ranks of lieutenant and sergeant in the French army.

Careers In 1920 he completed his studies in France. King Rama VI bestowed a second lieutenant on July 29, 1920, as a king guard under the 1st Infantry Regiment. Later, on January 27, 1922, King Rama VI bestowed the rank of lieutenant while studying military school in France. He also served in several French infantry regiments.

On June 29, 1931, he was graciously pleased to hold a position Assistant Chief of Staff for the Royal Thai Army.

In 1932, he retired from military officer then moved to serve in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the position of first secretary position at the Royal Thai Embassy Washington two years later he resigned from his post and returned to Thailand. During this time, He studied various academic fields such as history, astrology and literature.

Prince Nakkhatra Mangala represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the ambassador of the kingdom of Thailand to the Court of St James's in the United Kingdom, and to the government of France. He was the one who made his daughter, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara fall in love with King Bhumibol Adulyadej by sending his daughter to help take care of the king when he was car accident in Switzerland in 1950.

After he arranges for his daughter to be married with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, he was appointed as member of The Privy Council in Rama IX reign and promoted to rank General in Royal Thai Army.

Issue Prince Nakkhatra Mangala was married to Mom Luang Bua Snidvongs. There are 4 children as follows: Kalyanakit Kitiyakara, Adulakit Kitiyakara, Sirikit Kitiyakara and Busba Kitiyakara. Prince Nakkhatra Mangala was a key person who pushed the Kitiyakara family into being part of royal bloodline, the Mahidol family.

Death He became ill with bronchitis in mid-January 1953 and on February 11, 1953, at 7.45 a.m., he died at the royal palace at the age of 55 years 1 month 8 days.

Title, style, and honours

4 January 1899 – 5 June 1929 : His Serene Highness Prince Nakkhatra Mangala (; Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangala) 5 June 1929 – 8 May 1950 : His Serene Highness Prince Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara (; Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara) 8 May 1950 – 5 May 1952 : His Highness Prince Nakkhatra Mangala (; Phra Worawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao Nakkhatra Mangala) 5 May 1952 – 11 February 1953 : His Highness Prince Nakkhatra Mangala, the Prince of Chanthaburi (; Phra Worawong Thoe Krom Muen Chanthaburi Suranath)

Thai honours

Foreign honours

Ancestry