[2] Sukhumbhand was born in Bangkok to Prince Sukhumabhinan and his commoner wife, Mom Dusadi Na Thalang.

Sukhumbhand was a first cousin once removed or nephew of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (because Bhumibol's father Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and his paternal grandfather, Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu are half-brothers, while Prince Sukhumabhinanda was an indirect first cousin of Bhumibol), in addition to being related to the current King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his sisters as a second-degree cousin.

He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the Pembroke College of University of Oxford, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1977.

He added post-graduate studies of international relations at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, which he completed with a master's degree.

Sukhumbhand started his political career in the short-lived Nam Thai Party of which he was a founding member in 1994.

In 1999, when he was deputy foreign minister, he volunteered with a couple other Thai officials to take the place of 82 hostages taken at the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok by armed gunmen from the "Virulent Burmese Student Warriors".

[3] Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin stepped down in late 2008, after the National Anti-Corruption Commission initiated proceedings against him.