King and Queen Preside at Cremation of Dr. Prasert Prasatthong

His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen presided over the royal cremation ceremony of Dr. Prasert Prasatthong Prasatthong at Meru Luang in front of the Phlabphla Itsarayakorn pavilion at Wat Thepsirin Woras on August 8, 2026. Princess Sirindhorn also attended the ceremony.

Dr. Prasert Prasatthong was born on March 22, 1933, in Bangkok, the fourth of ten children born to Thong Yu and Boonrod Prasatthong. He completed his primary and lower secondary education at Assumption College Bangrak, upper secondary at Triam Udom Suksa School, and earned his bachelor's degree in medicine from the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital at Mahidol University. He also received honorary doctorates from several leading educational institutions.

His career began as a resident physician and associate professor in the Department of Surgery at Siriraj Hospital before leaving government service to pursue private business ventures in construction and oil drilling. In the healthcare field, he founded Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited, a major private hospital network in Thailand. He also established Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited and ventured into digital television media.

He held important positions including senator for two terms and member of parliament. He received numerous awards and honors, including the Chaiyanatnai Award for outstanding public health administrator in 2018 from His Majesty the King, a Certificate of Moral Excellence, and the Wheel of Dharma Award for contributions to Buddhism from Princess Sirindhorn. He received the Honorary Physician award from the Medical Council for exemplary management and conduct, the National Distinguished Preventive Medicine award in 2019 from the Thai Association of Preventive Medicine, and the Mahidol Gratitude Award, the highest honor bestowed by Mahidol University to distinguished alumni for their virtue, professional ethics, and outstanding contributions to society and nation.

For his extensive contributions, Dr. Prasert Prasatthong received numerous Thai royal decorations and medals including the Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chakra, the Most Distinguished Order of the Valiant, the Most Auspicious Order of the Crown of Thailand, and the Chakra Medal of the Tenth Reign Class 4. He also received foreign honors from French President Jacques Chirac and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.

In his family life, he was married to Wallee Prasatthong and had five children. Dr. Prasert Prasatthong passed away peacefully on April 21, 2026, at the age of 93.