Sri Suriyendra

Who was Sri Suriyendra?

Queen Sri Suriyendra was the queen of Siam, wife of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, who was her own cousin, and mother of Mongkut and Pinklao. She was later named upon the coronation of her son Mongkut as Krom Somdet Phra Sri Suriyendramataya.

Princess Bunreod was a daughter of Princess Sri Sudarak and her Chinese husband Chao Krua Ngern. Princess Bunreod lived with her mother in the Grand Palace and grew up with her maternal female cousins, the daughters of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.

Princess Bunreod had an affair with her cousin, Prince Isarasundhorn, a son and heir apparent to King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. In 1801, the King discovered the princess' four-month pregnancy and banished her from the Grand Palace to live with her brother Prince Thepharirak. Prince Isarasundhorn begged his father to no avail to return the princess to the palace. The couple eventually settled at the Old Palace and Princess Bunreod became the prince's consort. The baby died, however, shortly after birth. With Prince Isarasundhorn, she bore three sons: