Suan Sunandha, The Learning Center for Noblewomen

Suan Sunandha, once a royal court within Dusit Palace, was built during King Rama VI’s reign. It served as the ladies of the court’s residence as they could not reside outside the palace.

The ladies of the court were noblewomen such as the King’s consorts, concubines, female members of the royal family, and their ladies-in-waiting. These women lived within rigorous regulations, customs, and traditions. 

One of the most esteemed ladies of the court was Saisavali Bhiromya, the Royal Consort to King Rama V. She was highly respected by every members of the royal family. Her palace was known to be the main palace of Suan Sunandha. 

Suan Sunandha was the biggest court for ladies during the reigns of King Rama VI and VII. Each ladies of the court had her own distributed residence with ladies-in-waiting to serve them closely. The amount of those ladies-in-waiting depended on each ladies’ rank.

One of the social values among the members of royal family, the courtiers, the officials, and the nobles, was to send their daughters as ladies-in-waiting, with hope that they would be educated both in knowledge and also social etiquette. 

There were 2 types of ladies-in-waiting at Suan Sunandha: resident courtiers, who stayed to serve in court, and courtiers, who did not stay but helped with assignments occasionally when assigned.

The ladies-in-waiting were permitted to stay at the palace of the lady they served or to stay in a separate building. Maids who provided cleaning services and served the ladies-in-waiting could stay in the space under the houses called ‘tai-thoon.’

For instance, Taew Goonchorn Na Ayuthaya, a young confidant lady-in-waiting of Princess Nibha Nobhadol (King Rama V’s daughter), was permitted to reside next to her chamber whereas M.L. Neung Nilrat, a lady-in-waiting at the royal kitchen, was allowed to stay in separated house with M.C. Sabai Nilrat, the chief of the royal kitchen.     

Apart from modern education, the ladies-in-waiting were also trained with various worthy skills for women such as chores, floral handicrafts, embroideries, and culinary skills. 

Culinary skill was also what noblewomen should be able to execute, especially at Saisavali Bhiromya’s palace. Saisavali was renowned for her excellent cuisine. The ladies-in-waiting would go to her royal kitchen to study cooking techniques, and took precise notes of the recipe.

The ladies-in-waiting were known for their exquisite handicraft, especially floral art. The ladies of the court made merit everyday; thus, it was required to make various creative flower-arrangements like bouquets, garlands, and corsage at all time. The skills  were passed on from generations to generations.

After the Siamese revolution of 1932, the ladies of the court were allowed to reside outside of the royal palaces; hence, no more obligation to maintain so many ladies-in-waiting in the palaces. That was the end of holding ladies in the court; thus, the end of the  learning center for noblewomen of the Rattanakosin Era.