Boonruen Choonhavan

Than Phu Ying Boonruen Choonhavan (née Sophot; บุญเรือน ชุณหะวัณ; ; 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.

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

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.

Honours

 * Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Dame Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (1989)
 * Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Dame Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (1988)
 * Order of Chula Chom Klao - 2nd Class upper (Thailand) ribbon.svg Dame Grand Commander (Second Class, upper grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (1990)
 * The Boy Scout Citation Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg First Class of the Boy Scout Citation Medal (1983)
 * King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, 5th Class (1938)