Varananda Dhavaj

Prince Varanonda Dhavaj (Thai: วรานนท์ธวัช; RTGS: —"Waranon Thawat—), born Mom Chao Varananda Dhavaj Chudadhut (Thai: วรานนท์ธวัช จุฑาธุช; RTGS: —"Waranonthawat Chuthathut—) (August 19, 1922-September 14, 1990) was the son of Prince Chudadhut Dharadilok and Mom Rawee Kaiyanon. Although he was the only son of a senior Thai prince, he was disqualified from the Thai throne since his mother was not Prince Chudadhut's formal wife.

He accompanied his uncle King Prajadhipok to exile in England. He joined the RAF on February 24, 1942 and served, under the name Nicky Varanand, as pilot in the Normandy campaign on World War II. He later served in Asia until he resigned his commission 15 years later to fly commercial for Thai Airways International. He later created his own airline, Air Siam, that went bankrupt in 1977. In 1973, he became an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Marriage and family

He married Mom Pamela Smee on June 10, 1950. Two children were born from this union:

On September 24, 1969, he married his cousin Princess Galyani Vadhana, King Bhumibol's eldest sister.

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