Varananda Dhavaj
Thai prince / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prince Varananda Dhavaj (Thai: พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าวรานนท์ธวัช; RTGS: Waranonthawat), born Prince Varananda Dhavaj Chudadhuj (Thai: วรานนท์ธวัช จุฑาธุช; RTGS: Waranonthawat Chuthathut; 19 August 1920 – 14 September 1990) was the son of Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok and Mom Ravi Kayananda. Although he was the only son of a senior Thai prince, he was disqualified from succession to the throne because his mother was not Prince Chudadhut's formal wife.
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Varananda Dhavaj | |
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Born | (1920-08-19)19 August 1920 Bangkok, Siam |
Died | 14 September 1990(1990-09-14) (aged 70) Bangkok, Thailand |
Spouse | Pamela Smee Galyani Vadhana Mahidol Kokeaw Prakaykavil na Chiengmai Srisalai Suchatwut |
Issue | Dilok Nicholas Chudadhuj Dara Jane Chudadhuj |
House | Chudadhut family (Chakri Dynasty) |
Father | Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok |
Mother | Ravi Kayananda |
Religion | Buddhism |
Following the death of his father, the prince was raised by his uncle King Prajadhipok. He joined the monarch in virtual exile in England. He enlisted in the RAF on 24 February 1942 under the name Nicky Varanand, was commissioned in 1943, and served as pilot in the Normandy campaign during World War II. He remained in the RAF, finally retiring as a flight lieutenant in 1960 to fly commercial aircraft for Thai Airways International. He later created his own airline, Air Siam, which went bankrupt in 1977. In 1973, he also became an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture.