The office is an independent agency of the government, but subject to the supervision of the prime minister.

The Royal Society was established on 19 April 1926 by King Prajadhipok by combining the various existing agencies in charge of national libraries, national museums, literature works, engineering works, historical sites, and historical objects into one and the same agency for the reason that "Siam should have a learned society as in Western countries".

[5] The king named the society in Thai as Ratchabanditthayasapha (literally, "Society of Royal Pandits") after Krom Ratchabandit (literally, "Department of Royal Pandits"), an ancient government department in the Ministry of Public Instruction.

In addition, there had been no law or any other regulation requiring members of the Royal Society to do academic works.

The Royal Institute was first convened on 16 June 1934, presided over by Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena, the first prime minister of Siam who addressed the convention as follows: "Our Royal Institute is not a tool or device for promoting the dignity of any particular person, but it shall be for honouring the Nation and the constitutional administration.

The act also increased the powers of the society, such as by authorising it to confer degrees and certificates, to establish a welfare fund for its members, and to retain income for its internal use without having to send the income to the finance ministry as national revenue.

[3] In 2024, the society moved again to its present headquarters within Building C of the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex.

[1][8] For administrative purposes, the society has four divisions: The society's website states that each division has a staff of civil servants and clerical employees who perform both business and academic functions facilitating the works of fellows and associate fellows as well as conducting and promoting various academic activities.

The official seal of the society is a shining sword behind an open book bearing a Pali word, paṇḍito ("pandit").

A crown floats upon the sword and a ribbon bearing the name of the society is below the book.