A Thai Princess Who Traded Palace Life for Hollywood and Political Ambition
In short: Born into the heart of Thai royalty, Ubol Ratana defied tradition by marrying an American and moving abroad. After decades of life as a private citizen, she returned to her homeland, launching a multifaceted career that spans charitable activism, television hosting, acting, and a brief, historic attempt at national political leadership.
Ubol Ratana, the firstborn of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, was born in 1951 in Switzerland. Known to her family as Pay, she was a standout student and athlete during her youth. Her academic path led her to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned a degree in mathematics in 1973. During her time in the United States, she met and married Peter Ladd Jensen, a decision that resulted in the loss of her royal title as she chose to build a life outside the Thai court.
For over 26 years, she lived in the United States under the name Julie Jensen. Following her divorce in 1998, she eventually returned to Thailand permanently in 2001. Upon her return, she engaged deeply in public life, establishing foundations such as the To Be Number One initiative, which focuses on drug prevention and has grown to include over 31 million members. Her public persona is diverse; she has appeared in several Thai films and television dramas, and she maintains an active presence on social media, where she has expressed support for LGBTQ rights and identified herself as a fan of popular BL series.
Her most controversial moment occurred in February 2019, when she announced her candidacy for Prime Minister of Thailand. This move was unprecedented, as members of the royal family had historically remained removed from electoral politics. Her brother, King Vajiralongkorn, quickly issued a statement declaring the bid unconstitutional and inappropriate. Consequently, the Election Commission disqualified her, and the Thai Raksa Chart Party, which had backed her, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court. Despite this political setback, she remains a prominent figure in Thai society, continuing her philanthropic work and media appearances.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ubol Ratana
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-ubol-ratana.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Festivals & celebrations · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
