Boonruen Choonhavan
Than Phu Ying Boonruen Choonhavan was a Thai socialite who was the wife of Chatichai Choonhavan, Prime Minister of Thailand and a relative of the Queen Mother Srinagarindra.
Life
Chatichai and Boonruen had two children, daughter Wanee Hongpraphas, and their son political scientist, social activist, and former senator Kraisak Choonhavan.Boonruen and all her siblings were sponsored by Princess Srinagarindra and were followers when the Princess and her families traveled to Lausanne, Switzerland by boat from Penang in April 1933 with Princess Galyani Vadhana, King Ananda Mahidol and Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej. Later, Princess Srinagarindra arranged for her to live with a Swiss family and went on to study at a boarding school for girls. Boonruen graduated in child-rearing and accompanied Princess Srinagarindra back to Thailand in November 1938 and became a teacher at Laor Uthit Demonstration Kindergarten School Suan Dusit Institution.
Death
Boonruen died in Bangkok of COVID-19 on 14 August 2021, at the age of 101.Honours
- Dame Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
- Dame Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
- Dame Grand Commander of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
- First Class of the Boy Scout Citation Medal
- King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, 5th Class