Chakriwat Vivacharawongse

Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (Thai: จักรีวัชร วิวัชรวงศ์, RTGS: Chakkriwat Wiwatcharawong; 26 February 1983) is a Thai-American doctor and member of the Thai Royal Family. Born as the third son and fourth child of then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, he fled Thailand after being banished in 1996 along with his brothers and mother. He has a genetic condition, neurofibromatosis type II.^[1] He is also the founder and CEO of Chakriwat Medical Information Center.^[2]

Chakriwat was born on 26 February 1983 to then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and then wife Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, He was third son of the King Vajiralongkorn.^[3] He has 2 older brothers: Juthavachara (born 29 August 1979) and Vacharaesorn (born 27 May 1981); one younger brother, Vatcharawee (born 14 June 1985); and one younger sister, Sirivannavari ( born 8 January 1987). However, his sister was abducted from Britain and returned to Thailand and remains in the line of succession and with her titles.^[4]

Doing their time in Thailand, they grew up at the Royal Palace, but were educated in the United Kingdom and attended Sunningdale prep school and Pangbourne College, both in Berkshire. As a teenager, he was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type II after notcing a lump on his neck, which was later removed and biopsied. This later inspired him to seek a path in medicine.^[2][5]

In 1996, Vajiralongkorn accused Sujarinee of adultery and exiled her and her sons from Thailand, with Chakriwat and his brothers being stripped of their titles. In 1998 at age 15, he co-signed a letter with his brothers where they accused their father of "trying to erase memories of us" and that he never loved their mother and would force them outside of their house "every time he found another woman".^[6] In 1996, the United States granted them political asylum and were given passports, enabling Chakriwat to continue living in New York. He continued his education at Trinity Prepraratory School.^[7] In 2006, he graduated with a BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Miami, before going on to study medicine, entering the medical school of University of Miami with the Doctor of Medicine program.^[8]

Along with his older brother, Vacharaesorn, he returned to Thailand, arriving on the morning of 12 August 2023. His arrival caused Vacharaesorn to postpone his departure back to the United States which was planned for 13 August. Together, they visited Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province on 12 August before both visiting Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok on 13 August, where they paid their respects to their ancestors Bhumibol Adulyadej and Mahidol Adulyadej.^[9]

After graduating from medical school Chakriwat established Chakriwat Medical Information Center (CMIC).^[2][10] He also periodically expressed concern for the Thai public health system.^[11]