Princess Studied Law Like Any Other Thammasat Student

When Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati arrived at Thammasat University's law school in 1997, her classmates weren't sure what to expect. What they found was a fellow student who sat on floors during orientation, laughed at old Thai superstitions about marshmallows, and helped create international standards for women prisoners.

The first day set the tone for everything that followed. During traditional freshman activities at the Tha Phra Chan campus, the princess joined songs, games, and group exercises without hesitation. Students who worried about using proper royal language quickly relaxed when she made it clear none was needed.

Assistant Professor Taweesak Euaamornwanich, now at Thammasat's legal affairs office, remembers how naturally she fit in. "There was no sense of distance," he said. Though the faculty prepared a special reception room for her, she rarely used it, preferring to spend time in classrooms with friends.

One moment from a study trip to France captures the warmth classmates remember. Taweesak bought a long marshmallow stick, and the princess asked to try it. After tasting the sweet treat, she joked about an old superstition: "Don't eat too much, or you'll become vicious." Then she suggested buying more at seven francs each to share with everyone.

Behind the friendly demeanor was remarkable discipline. The princess balanced royal duties with law classes and simultaneous political science studies at another university. She finished her law degree in three and a half years, graduating with second-class honors while most students took four years.

Why This Inspires

Her commitment to using legal knowledge for good became clear after graduation. The princess championed the Bangkok Rules, United Nations standards adopted in 2010 to protect the rights and dignity of women prisoners worldwide. The initiative demonstrated how she turned classroom learning into tangible change for vulnerable people.

Associate Professor Supreeya Kaewla-iad, now Dean of the Faculty of Law and a former classmate, said the Bangkok Rules showed concern for all groups in society. Years after graduating, the princess returned to teach Criminal Procedure Law to postgraduate students, finally using that fourth-floor room as her working office.

For Law Class 40, the memories aren't about formality or royal protocol but about a classmate who made everyone comfortable, worked incredibly hard, and never forgot why she studied law in the first place.