HRH Princess Chulabhorn has given an interview to a television programme ‘Woody Born to Talk’ on Channel 9.  Here are some excerpts from the first part of the interview which was aired on 3 April.  The second part is scheduled for next Sunday.  The host of the show is Wuthithorn Milinthajinda, or Woody.

Most teenagers have become aware of HM’s royal duties through the royal anthem which is played [and accompanied by footage showing royal activities] before movies in theatres, and a lot of royal projects are shown.  But I believe that few people have had the opportunity to follow HM.  I know that HM has worked very hard, as I’ve heard that HM starts work from 4 or 5 in the morning.  Is that true, Your Highness?

Yes.  HM works very hard.  When he visited hill tribe people in Chiang Mai, sometimes there were no roads and we had to walk up across mountains, sometimes 7-8 mountains.  Sometimes when I followed him, I was with a medical unit and had to carry a rucksack with medicines. […] At the time I was young, and I felt that it was a severe hardship.  When I arrived at a village, I hoped that there would be many patients, so that the medicine in my bag would be used up because it was so heavy, 14 kgs.

What do you think about the royal anthem in movie theatres?

It gives a glimpse of HM’s way of life in bits and pieces.  I think that is too little.  However little it is, I’m proud that 20-year-old youngsters come to know what HM has done.  This is not to promote myself as a royal.  But I want HM to receive the justice he deserves, and also HM the Queen.  They’ve worked so hard.

Indeed, I’d like to ask for something, but haven’t dared to.  I’d like to ask for 10 minutes of TV time after the news each day, to show short films about the royal duties to show what HM the King and the Queen have been doing.  Please pity them.  When they work wholeheartedly for the Thai people, both of them are very attentive.  HM the King has followed irrigation works.  He sends for officials to come to the hospital every day.

Then has HM had time to sleep?

HM goes to sleep very late.  Sometimes he cannot sleep.  Sometimes he sleeps a little.  Sometimes when there are problems, he would follow them up, like floods, for example, concerned about the hardship of the people.  He would order [officials] to send bags of emergency supplies to the people.  When he sees on TV where are floods, where it is hot, or where people have been injured, he will give help without telling anyone.  He does good without being seen indeed.  If I were not his child, I’d never know this.

The young generation has the perception through the media that the Bureau of the Royal Household has done everything.  HM…

HM gives the orders himself.

Every time bags of emergency supplies are sent, HM…

Yes. He gives the order.

The Bureau of the Royal Household cannot send out emergency supplies without HM’s orders.  What are Their Majesties the King and Queen most concerned with?

Frankly, both their majesties are concerned with unity among Thai people, because if there are divisions, enemies can easily attack us.  The Thai people must be strong, be friendly to each other and be united, so that the country will progress.  In fact, I don’t get mixed up in politics.  I don’t want to say who is good or bad.  I don’t know.  Because I’ve never associated with politicians.

But I know that what happened last year, when the country was burnt, brought great sorrow to Their Majesties the King and Queen.  HM the King had been able to re-learn to walk, and then he collapsed.  He had a fever, had to be put on a saline drip and was confined to bed.  HM the Queen was also very sad.  She said that it was even sadder than when our country, Ayutthaya, was burnt by the Burmese because this time it was done by the Thais ourselves.

How do you think our country will move forward and be united from now on?

Actually, being divisive is not good for the country.  We should try to talk.  Don’t use violence.  Divisiveness and blocking roads makes traffic jams, and people are moody.  I do not side with anyone, or any colour.