Boonruen Choonhavan

Than Phu Ying Boonruen Choonhavan (née Sophot; Thai: บุญเรือน ชุณหะวัณ; RTGS: Bunruean Chunhawan; 25 April 1920 – 14 August 2021) was a Thai socialite who was the wife of Chatichai Choonhavan, Prime Minister of Thailand and a relative of the Queen Mother Srinagarindra.^[1]

Than Phu Ying Boonruen Choonhavan
บุญเรือน ชุณหะวัณ
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 4 August 1988 – 23 February 1991
Preceded by	Wirat Chamanan
Succeeded by	Sotsi Panyarachun
Personal details
Born	Boonruen Sophot (1920-04-25)25 April 1920 Bangkok, Siam
Died	14 August 2021(2021-08-14) (aged 101) Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse	Chatichai Choonhavan
Children	Wanee Choonhavan Kraisak Choonhavan
Occupation	Teacher

Life

Chatichai and Boonruen had two children, daughter Wanee Hongpraphas, and their son political scientist, social activist, and former senator Kraisak Choonhavan.^[2]

Boonruen and all her siblings were sponsored by Princess Srinagarindra and were followers when the Princess and her families traveled to Lausanne, Switzerland by boat from Penang in April 1933 with Princess Galyani Vadhana, King Ananda Mahidol and Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej. Later, Princess Srinagarindra arranged for her to live with a Swiss family and went on to study at a boarding school for girls. Boonruen graduated in child-rearing and accompanied Princess Srinagarindra back to Thailand in November 1938 and became a teacher at Laor Uthit Demonstration Kindergarten School Suan Dusit Institution.

Death

Boonruen died in Bangkok of COVID-19 on 14 August 2021, at the age of 101.^[3]

Honours

• Dame Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (1989)
• Dame Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (1988)
• Dame Grand Commander (Second Class, upper grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (1990)
• First Class of the Boy Scout Citation Medal (1983)
• King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, 5th Class (1938)