In fairy tales, princesses sneak out of their palaces to see the world outside. That’s not the case for Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who regularly travels across Thailand and the rest of the globe. And now, she’s inviting everyone to enjoy her journeys through her photos.
“Free at Last!” (“Dai Ok Nok Baan”) perfectly captures the spirit of the Princess’ latest photography exhibition. After a period of travel restrictions, the Princess has resumed her much-loved hobby: photography.
Photo: Auspicious gift: The turtle the Princess presented to HM the King on July 28, 2024.//Photo by Warunee Maneekum
Despite facing health challenges, including a bout of Covid-19, the Princess managed to travel to various destinations throughout 2024.
Her trips were both domestic, with visits to Pattani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Lamphun to continue her work on projects initiated by the late King Rama IX and King Rama X, and international, and added new countries to her travel diary.
Known for her passion for photography, the Princess often carries a camera, much like her father, the late King Rama IX.
Her photographs capture moments of interest and often reflect her playful side.
For instance, the multiple shots of Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, Secretary General of the Chaipattana Foundation, showcase her playful spirit.
Last year, she titled a similar photo “Gathering of Dr. Sumet”, while this year's photo series adds fresh humor with a caption that says “The Star. His presence is strictly required every year.”
Photo: The picture Princess says is “strictly required” every year. //Photo by Warunee Maneekum
The Princess even requested a new photo with Dr. Sumet in front of the exhibition, bringing smiles to all.
This exhibition offers the public a glimpse into the Princess’s travels and her unique perspective, showcasing her talent for capturing the essence of a place and objects.
The 150 photographs show she is indeed “Free at Last” as most pictures document different places at home and abroad including bird’s eye view shots from an aircraft or a helicopter.
Only a small number were taken at the Sra Pathum Palace, which she calls home. They are mostly her “pets” like cats, water monitors and snakes.
Photo: Some of Sra Prathum Palace’s “pets” //Photo by Warunee Maneekum
One photo of her garden “pet” reads: “Monitor lizard in front of the library. It is so used to humans that it would not run away even when we are near.”
The Princess’s photographs offer a glimpse into her diverse interests, from cultural landmarks, art, history and animals to everyday moments.
Her images of the historic Brandenburg Gate and the Suphannahong Royal Barge reflect her love of travel, culture and exploration. Additionally, her candid shots of local life, such as her neighbour’s cat in Uthai Thani province, reveal her keen eye for detail and her ability to capture the essence of a place.
Photo: Feline neighbour in Uthai Thani.//Photo by Veena Thoopkrajae
The photography allows her to express herself creatively and share her experiences with others. If a visitor reads the captions carefully, they will see they contain personal narratives that she likes to share with others.
Photo: The food the Princess sampled during her overseas trips.// Photo by Warunee Maneekum
A photo of a student activity performed as she visited a school project in China, is captioned: “Students of Man Yong Xian Feng Lu Sirindhorn School in Sichuan Province. This time I could not take many photos of the students because I was cornered against a wall."
Another photo that underlines her down-to-earth nature shows a blackboard with a list of dishes for her. Anyone reading closely would spot a dish with a rude name, but it is a real name.
She takes it lightly and thinks it is worth a photo, and it is displayed along with photos of her birthday cakes.
Photo: The birthday cake the Lao Embassy prepared for the Princess.//Photo by Warunee Maneekum
As the princess travelled considerably more than in recent years, the photo exhibition takes visitors to Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines in this region.
Photo: Shanghai’s skyline by the Princess.// Photo by Warunee Maneekum
Elsewhere in Asia, she shares a number of photos from her China trip such as Shanghai architecture and Beijing opera. But the public will learn that she stayed home on New Year’s Eve as there are many New Year fireworks in the sky over Siam Paragon, the mall neighboring her residence.
Photo: A Chinese opera performer in Beijing, China.// Photo by Warunee Maneekum
Although she loves traveling and learning new things, the princess said “Going to unknown countries is more difficult because of my age and health. I hope that in 2025, when I will be 70 years old, I can share more interesting photos with all of you.”
Photo: Inside the Museum of Natural History in Helsinki, Finland.//Photo by Warunee Maneekum
Photo: Eggs from King Charles III’s chicken farm. /Photo by Veena Thoopkrajae
The princess has been granting her photographs to the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand for public exhibition since 2007. Every year, the public has a chance to see the world and through her lens.
“When I was young, HM Queen Sirikit asked me what I would like to do when I grew up. I answered her that I wanted to travel around the world. Father (King Rama IX) said it was not right, and suggested that I should want to help others. In fact, I did want to help others like the hero in a Japanese movie I watched when I was young. The hero traveled around and kept people out of trouble wherever he went. When all went well, he moved on to the next destination to help more people.”
IF YOU GO
“Free at Last!!” A photo exhibition by HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn can be viewed on the 9th Floor of Bangkok Art and Cultural Center until 16 March.
