An exemplary childhood

SEVERAL books have been written over the years about His Majesty the King of Thailand, covering everything from the royal projects and his talent in art, science, sport, craftsmanship and music. Few, though, have done more than touch on his years in Switzerland, the country in which the King spent much of his youth and where he and his siblings were educated.

Lysandre C. Seraidaris bridged that gap with his book “King Bhumibol and the Thai Royal Family in Lausanne”. Seraidaris is the youngest son of Cleon C. Seraidaris, a young lawyer who became the private tutor to two monarchs of Thailand, King Ananda and His Majesty King Bhumibol. 

Cleon C. Seraidaris was working towards his law degree at the University of Lausanne when he was introduced to Princess Mahidol and her three children by his close friend Rasmi Suriyong, a Siamese Prince, in 1935. 

“A grandson of King Rama IV told my father that he would like to introduce him to his cousin, just in case he could help them. Shortly afterwards, Princess Mahidol asked my father if he’d be willing to become the tutor of the boys,” Seraidaris said.

“Lausanne is a charming university city. Other cities have industries and international organisations but Lausanne has prestigious schools and universities and that’s why the royal family decided to come to the town. You can be a famous person but live a quiet life in Lausanne. People do not bother you.”

Seraidaris explained that his father steadfastly refused to write of his experiences prior to his death in 1997, saying that his professional life and memories did not belong to him but to His Majesty. 

“My father always said ‘I will not write if His Majesty does not ask me to do so’. It just happened that His Majesty encouraged me to write. I was very proud that His Majesty trusted me. He thought this book would be good for history. The King offered to make corrections if there were any mistakes but he didn’t need to correct anything,” he explained.

Seraidaris Senior was also proficient in woodworking having learned at l’Ecole Nouvelle and with his father-in-law, a professional cabinet-maker. He passed on the high art of woodworking, known only to the elite elderly craftsmen to the young monarchs. 

“They learned to make things by hands from my father. My father was acting in a way like a father, passing on his knowledge to the children. 

“They used to talk about sports and ask the same sort of questions that children pose to an adult. My father was there everyday from early morning until late evening to answer all their questions, supervise their education, lead them to the right schools and to the right teachers as well as to help them learn about life,” Seraidaris said.

“My father took them to school, talked to the teachers, collected them from school and taught them some sports. The two kings loved the outdoors and enjoyed skiing, cycling, skating, climbing the mountains and picking mushrooms. They were interested in everything. My father called them perfect students. You can see in my book the weekly reports on which the teachers commented ‘extremely good’.

“I remember my father as a kind and well-respected person. Even at 90, he was always keen to learn something new. He used to say he wanted to learn one thing everyday. That’s why he got along so well with the royal family. They share the same outlook. My father and the two kings, they developed together. 

“My father considered himself so privileged to be a tutor of two kings and on top of that, one of the most admired kings in the world. It was a privilege that fell to no one else. That’s why I thought it was worth writing a book.”

Unlike other heads of state, the two monarchs didn’t attend boarding school as their mother felt it was more important for them to understand life outside the palace.

“They behaved like kings but they were living with their mother because she wanted them to have a normal family life. This, she felt, would help them to understand the lives of ordinary people and thus be able to work for the people. By knowing what the problems are, they can find solutions. 

“I don’t know whether it also comes from Swiss education but King Bhumibol likes perfection. He likes work to be well done, which is a Swiss quality,” Seraidaris told The Nation. “Actually, I think Prince Mahidol of Songkhla and Princess Mahidol were also like this and their children inherited that trait. That’s why they coped so well with Switzerland. I think they felt at home.”

The royal family was greatly appreciated by the people of Lausanne and often stopped on the street to say hello to the people they knew. 

“The wife of the owner of the Chinese restaurant told me that King Bhumibol had picked cherries at Vadhana Villa and brought her a basketful. She was so touched because, as she said, the King could have told any of his people to buy cherries and deliver them but he chose to do this himself. She also told me how she slipped and the King helped her up. She never forgot that moment,” Seraidaris said.

The King’s gentleness didn’t only touch the heart of the wife of the owner of the Chinese restaurant in Lausanne. His more than 70 years of hard work outside the palace and his gentleness also touched the heart of millions of Thai people. His love for his people will surely never be forgotten.