I've been to Thailand more than 25 times, and the royalty of the country has long fascinated me. In the early 1860s, Anna Leonowens ( right ) became governess to the children of King Mongkut ( below) , or Rama IV, of Siam.   He was trying to modernize the country.   Mongkut had 82 children from 32 wives, and lived to the age of 64.   The  real story of Anna  is not exactly as portrayed, for it is believed that she was born in India of mixed parentage, and came to Thailand from Malaysia.  She had a daughter, who was sent to England, and went to Bangkok only with her son. One of his sons, most prominent in the book/play/film, was Chulalongkorn. He became the next king, Rama V, married four of his half sisters,  had 143 concubines, 32 sons and 44 daughters.   It was he who modernized his country, and died at the age of 43 from a kidney disease.   Chulalongkorn University ranks #1 in Thailand. The country was early on cal...