Ministry of the Privy Seal

[1] The department probably dates from the time of the later Ayutthaya period (c. 17th century), and was one of the six krom montri—offices directly under the control of the king—in the Chatusadom system.

[2] Royal scribes were important courtiers who were accorded a high level of trust, as they were responsible for relaying the orders of the king.

[3] Some head scribes (who in the Rattanakosin period were usually granted the noble title Sunthonwohan) as such became known as prominent poets (most notably Sunthorn Phu) and language scholars (Noi Acharyankura, Tri Nagapradipa [th]).

By the time of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), as part of government reforms, the Royal Scribes Department was reorganized into the Ministry of the Privy Seal in 1892, with its work split among three constituent departments: the new Royal Scribes Department, now under the ministry, which oversaw official documents and records; the Council of State Office (กรมรัฐมนตรีสภา) served as an executive body to the Council of State; and the Office (or Department)[a] of His Majesty's Private Secretary (กรมราชเลขานุการ) which performed the duties of the king's private secretary.

[1][3] In 1932, following the Siamese Revolution, the Office of His Majesty's Private Secretary was renamed the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, with its status as a public body equivalent to a government department (or directorate general under a ministry).

Among the responsibilities of the ministry, as well as its predecessor and successor agencies, was the safekeeping of the royal seals, seen here impressed on a historical manuscript copy of the constitution.