Royal Promotion

Siam's eleven-year-old King, elf-faced Ananda Mahidol, last week got his first practical benefit from his kingship since his Uncle Prajadhipok abdicated last month (TIME, March 11). In the excitement of his ascension to the throne, Ananda, heretofore high in his classes in the Swiss school at Lausanne, which he has been attending, has fallen a little behind. Last week came examinations. A word from His Majesty was sufficient. Thereupon Queen Mother Songkla petitioned the Lausanne director of schools to excuse Ananda from taking the examination. The Siamese Legation in Switzerland repeated the request. Last week the Lausanne director ruled: "Ananda Mahidol is excused from the spring examinations and is hereby promoted to the classical college [equivalent of U. S. high school], in view of his excellent record and his high personality."

Before King Ananda enters the "classical college" he must go to Siam with his mother to get his crown. After that, on the Queen Mother's insistence and with the permission of the Siamese Parliament, he will spend two more years on his studies in Switzerland.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.