12 November 1956

Prince Wan voted president of the UN

The United Nations General Assembly’s new president, Prince Wan Waithayakon, endorsed UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld’s trip to Cairo to inspect a UN emergency international force. Prince Wan also called on delegates to solve the major problems troubling the Middle East and Hungary.

The 65-year-old head of the assembly, also Thailand’s foreign minister, had been unanimously elected to the post. Born in 1891, Prince Wan had been appointed in 1924 as Thailand’s under-secretary for foreign affairs. He later served as Bangkok’s representative to Britain and the United States.

Prince Wan was one of the few royals in the People’s Party after the 1932 revolution ended absolute monarchy, and was considered one of Thailand’s foremost diplomats.

12 November 1956

Prince Wan voted president of the UN

The United Nations General Assembly’s new president, Prince Wan Waithayakon, endorsed UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld’s trip to Cairo to inspect a UN emergency international force. Prince Wan also called on delegates to solve the major problems troubling the Middle East and Hungary.

The 65-year-old head of the assembly, also Thailand’s foreign minister, had been unanimously elected to the post. Born in 1891, Prince Wan had been appointed in 1924 as Thailand’s under-secretary for foreign affairs. He later served as Bangkok’s representative to Britain and the United States.

Prince Wan was one of the few royals in the People’s Party after the 1932 revolution ended absolute monarchy, and was considered one of Thailand’s foremost diplomats.