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In this drawing, Queen Debsirindra sports the fashionable hairstyle of the Siamese court, shaved at the sides and with a circle around the tuft. In Siam, a lady’s hair was often likened to an open lotus flower.<br/><br/> Somdet Phra Debsirindra Boroma Rajini (17 July 1834—9 September 1861) was the second consort of King Mongkut (Rama IV), and mother of the future King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).<br/><br/> Of ethnic Mon descent, Mom Chao Rampoei was born to Prince Siriwongse and Lady Noi. Rampoei married King Mongkut in 1853, at which time her status was raised to a Phra Ong Chao (i.e. Princess). In the same year she gave birth to Prince Chulalongkorn. She later became Queen Rampoei and had another three children with King Mongkut.
In January 1867, the French Mekong Exploration Commission sidetracked its Mekong journey to visit the Siamese city of Ubon on the Mun River, one of the tributaries of the Mekong. Members of the French delegation were invited to attend the anointment of the new ruler. A French chronicle reads: “The morning of the big day we were deafened by the noise of gongs [and drummers] … Everyone gathered at the palace. Soon the retinue emerged and paraded on the great square. Mounted on a big elephant, which had gigantic tusks, the king of Oubon appeared, surrounded by guards on foot and horses, and followed by his highest dignitaries, mounted as he was.”