Michael Jamieson Bristow 
HM KING PRAJADHIPOK OF THAILAND (1893-1941)
Born: 12.25pm Bangkok (Thailand), November 08 1893 - Died: 10.00am-11.00am Virginia Water (England), May 30 1941
Ascension of King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni: November 26 1925
Coronation: February 25 1926
Abdication: March 02 1935
Funeral (Cremation): June 03 1941
In 1940 the cold and dampness of the Welsh winter took a toll on the King's health. A severe heart complaint was giving him pain and making him weak. In the end he mused, "If I were to die, let me die happily at home than in a hotel" and moved back from Wales to Compton House at Virginia Water to be closely attended by his doctor, Dr Lewellan, who lived nearby. His health appeared to improve as spring came in 1941.
In the last week of May, fate delivered them another blow. Vane Court at Biddenden was commandeered to the war effort. It would have been too much to expect the King to look on the bright side of things now that his house was called upon to fight in war, an opportunity denied him earlier in World War I (1914-1918).
The King woke early on May 30 1941 and, feeling better, told Queen Rambhai to go to Vane Court without worrying about him. After she left, he had a soft boiled egg served to him by his nurse and went back to sleep. At about nine that morning, his soul took leave of him.
To have died in such peace and quiet, and without pain or trauma, is in the Thai Buddhist way of thinking evidence of his being a man full of merit.
The British police tracked down the Queen's car near Maidstone. "She was so brave amidst those crying around her," remarked MC (Prince) Karawik Chakrabhandhu who recalled the story the Queen told him then of how, as the car slowed in the fog, an apparition of the King standing in the way came before her eyes. "How strange," she said to herself.
Her Majesty could no longer hold back her tears when on June 03 1941, the King's body, dressed in red according to his instructions, to resemble that of King Mongkut at his death and to signify royalty, was put in a hearse to be moved to Golders Green Crematorium in North London. "They have taken him away," were the Queen's brief words.
The cremation was a simple affair. R D Craig, his lawyer, said a few laudatory words and someone played Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, a piece he loved so much, as the coffin was moved into the furnace. There were no Buddhist monks in England then, so it was impossible to have a religious ceremony.
Four years after World War II (1939-1945) ended, HM Queen Rambhai Bharni left Compton House on May 01 1949, with small urns containing the King's relics and ashes, for Southampton to board the Wilhelm Ruys, a Dutch ship, bound for Singapore. There, British guards of honour played the Siamese Royal Anthem and lowered the regiment's flag.
On May 24 1949, she arrived at the Rajavoradist Pier aboard the RTNS Mae Klong. His late Majesty's remains were taken in procession in full sovereign honour to the Grand Palace. He had been fully reinstated.
KINGS OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF CHAKRI
KING RAMA I (born March 20 1737) (April 06 1782 - September 07 1809)
KING RAMA II (born February 26 1768) (September 07 1809 - July 21 1824)
KING RAMA III (born March 31 1788) (July 21 1824 - April 02 1851)
KING MONGKUT [RAMA IV] (born October 18 1804) (April 02 1851 - October 01 1868)
KING CHULALONGKORN [RAMA V] (born September 20 1853) (October 01 1868 - October 23 1910)
KING VAJIRAVUDH [RAMA VI] (born January 01 1881) (October 23 1910 - November 26 1925)
KING PRAJADHIPOK [RAMA VII] (born November 08 1893) (November 26 1925 - March 02 1935) (died May 30 1941)
KING ANANDA [RAMA VIII] (born September 20 1925) (March 02 1935 - June 09 1946)
KING BHUMIBOL [RAMA IX] (born December 05 1927) (since June 09 1946)