Chalermsuk Yugala

Prince Chalermsuk Yugala (Thai: เฉลิมศึกยุคล RTGS: Chaloemsuek Yukhon; born 24 October 1950) is a Thai military general and member of the Thai royal family. Born with the royal rank of Mom Chao 'His Serene Highness', he was granted the rank of Phra Ong Chao 'His Highness' by King Vajiralongkorn through a royal decree, making him the first member of the House of Yugala, a cadet branch of the Chakri Dynasty, to receive this honor.^[1]

Chalermsuk Yugala เฉลิมศึกยุคล
Prince Chalermsuk Yugala
Born	(1950-10-24) 24 October 1950 (age 74)
House	Yukol (Chakri dynasty)
Father	Chalermbol Dighambara [th]
Mother	Thongthaem Yugala

Biography

The Prince is the son of Prince Chalermpon Tikamporn and his wife, Thongtam Yukol na Ayudhya. As the grandson of Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi, and the great-grandson of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), he belongs to a distinguished lineage. He attended Bangkok Christian College for his secondary education before earning a degree in Biological Sciences from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He also completed the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Survival Program at the U.S. Army.^[2]

He served as Deputy Director General of the Royal Thai Army Chemical Department and held other significant military positions. Post-retirement, he chaired the Biological Weapons Convention of Thailand, led the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), and served as a UN Chemical Weapons Inspector. He is also a patron of numerous charitable organizations.^[3][4]

In 2019, Prince Chalermsuk was promoted to the rank of General and appointed Honorary Military Officer to the King’s Bodyguard under the Royal Security Command. Prince Chalermsuk became the first member of the House of Yugala to be granted the style of "His Highness," marking a historic elevation as the first minor royal to be raised from "His Serene Highness" during the reign of King Vajiralongkorn.^[1]

Honours

Royal Decorations

• Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
• Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
• Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
• Order of the Direkgunabhorn, Silver Medal
• Chakra Mala Medal
• King Rama X Royal Cypher Medal, Second Class
• King Rama IX Coronation Medal
• Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, Second Class

Foreign Honours

• UN :
  • United Nations Special Service Medal