Princess Phongpraphai was born on 19 December 1867 at Grand Palace, Bangkok. She was the first daughter of King Chulalongkorn of Siam, and The Noble Consort Mom Rajawongse Khae Phuengbunya. While she was born, her father was still the heir-apparent as Prince Chulalongkorn, the Prince Binitprajanardh. He became a father at age 14. Mom Rajawongse Khae was the prince's nanny. After birth, she was given title as Mom Chao in the Serene Highness style. When he succeeded the throne from his father as the King, she became the first The Noble Consort or Chao Chom Manda in his reign. And the princess was elevated to Princess, in the Royal Highness style. After she was born, Chao Chom Manda Tieng, the noble consort of King Mongkut took the little baby to King Mongkut. He asked whose is this daughter?, she did not answer, and asked the king, who does the girl look like?. He surprised, then he answered she looks like Pheoi. Then he realised that she was Prince Chulalongkorn's daughter. He angried both the Prince and Mom Rajawongse Khae that having child before succeeding to the throne. But he did not do punishment to the prince and Mom Rajaongse Khae.
Life in the palace
After her father succeeded to the throne. Both the princess and her mother had their own residence in the area of Grand Palace. They lived in the Grand Palace all of their lives. She was strict about the old tradition in the Royal Family, although in 1873, King Chulalongkorn cancelled the ancient tradition of have an audience with royalty by standing or sitting on the chair same as the western tradition, instead crouching in the past. Every members of the Royal Family, including the officers do in the new tradition, except the little princess. She still crouched when she was near her father. King Chulalongkorn was so angry with her, he pulled her daughter's tuft for making her standing, but she was still crouching. And while she was living in her residence in the Grand Palace, her father hardly ever visit her. Although he has many children, the King visited his children every spare time, especially Chao Chom Manda Pae Bunnag and her daughter, Princess Srivilailaksana, the Princess of Suphanburi. Caused decreasing importance of the princess, as the eldest daughter, and the eldest child. She died on 1 March 1942, at the age of 74.
