Who would be Queen of Laos today?

The Kingdom of Laos existed from 1946 to 1975. King Sisavangvong was its first King, and he was also the last ruler of the Lao Kingdom of Luang Prabang. Laos had had several Kingdoms over the centuries, but we are focusing on the most recent one. The Queens mentioned here are consorts. Any titles following the end of the monarchy are titular.

Sisavangvong was born on 14 July 1885 as the eldest surviving son of King Zakarinth of Luang Prabang and Queen Thong-sy. He succeeded his father as King of Luang Prabang on 28 April 1904 and became the first King of an independent Laos in 1946. He had around 18 wives and 50 children. Queen Kham-Oun I was the mother of his successor, King Sisavang Vatthana, and four other children. However, she died in 1915 before the creation of the last Kingdom of Laos.

King Sisavangvong died on 29 October 1959 at the age of 74. He was succeeded by his son, King Sisavang Vatthana. He had married Queen Khamphoui on 7 August 1930, and they had five children together. Her husband was forced to abdicate the throne on 2 December 1975. The family was initially allowed to stay as private persons, but they were arrested in 1977.

King Sisavangvong, Queen Khamphoui, two of their sons, Crown Prince Vong Savang and Prince Sisavang Savang, were taken to “re-education camps.” Their two daughters were sent into exile, and their youngest son had swam to Thailand in 1975 to escape persecution. The Crown Prince’s eldest two sons also managed to escape. The King, Queen, Crown Prince Vong Savang and Prince Sisavang Savang all perished in the camps, although their exact dates of death are uncertain. The Crown Prince’s wife, Princess Mahneelai Panya, was eventually released and is still alive. Queen Khamphoui was thus the last Queen of Laos.

The claim to the throne passed to Crown Prince Vong Savang, if we assume that he outlived his father. If he did, his wife, Princess Mahneelai Panya, was the first titular Queen consort of Laos. Upon his death, his claim passed to his eldest son, Prince Soulivong Savang.

🇱🇦🇺🇲#Laos’ Prince Soulivong Savang and Princess Chansouk Soukthala presided over the inauguration of the “Phra Thard Luong” Pagoda Replica, where they were greeted by Lao communities at Wat Lao Kimbo in Fort Worth #Texas #USA.

📸 Wat Kimbo #SoulivongSavang #LanXang #ລາວ pic.twitter.com/Y5tWJxkjzS

— Royal World Thailand 🇹🇭 (@rwthofficial) January 27, 2024

Prince Soulivong Savang married Princess Chansouk Soukthala in 2007, making her the current titular Queen of Laos.

They do not have any children, and so Prince Soulivong Savang’s heir is his younger brother, Prince Thayavong Savang. He married Princess Malika Khammao and has five children with her.