Wichaichan succeeded his father by being appointed the Front Palace and Viceroy of Siam in 1868, during the reign of his cousin King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).

[3] Notably, he is the only Front Palace that was elected by the council, not appointed by the king in accordance with the royal tradition, which is still considered as controversial and unorthodox practice to this day.

Phra Ong Chao Yodyingyot Bovorn Rachorod Rattana Rachakumarn (พระองค์เจ้ายอดยิ่งประยุรยศบวรราโชรสรัตนราชกุมาร) was born on the 6 April 1838, the eldest son of Prince Chutamani and Princess Aim.

This meant that the position which was also that of the heir presumptive was left unoccupied (Siam had no law of succession at the time, but the Viceroy was seen as the strongest claimant).

Sri Suriwongse was a member of the powerful Bunnag family, which had dominated the running of the Siamese government since the reign of King Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II).

Wichaichan was a great friend of the British Consul-General to Siam: Thomas George Knox, he was originally recruited by Pinklao to modernize the Front Palace's armed forces.

Knox greatly preferred the mature and experienced Wichaichan — who was also the son of one of the most westernized member of the elite to ascend the throne — over the young Chulalongkorn.

[10] In August 1868 King Mongkut contracted malaria whilst on an expedition to see a solar eclipse in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, six weeks later he died on 1 October.

The young Chulalongkorn (who was only 15 years old at the time) was unanimously declared king by a council of high-ranking nobility, princes of the Chakri dynasty and monks.

[8] However, the nomination of Wichaichan was supported by Sri Suriwongse who wanted to secure a line of succession by appointing an able and experienced Front Palace (as the second-in-line to the throne).

[7] As a result, Prince Wichaichan was appointed Front Palace (Krom Phra Rajawang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol) and viceroy without the full consent of the incoming monarch.

Since the elevation of King Pinklao twenty years earlier, the office of Front Palace had gained considerable amount of power and prestige.

The prince also had a large share of state revenues, over one-third of which is given directly to him for the maintenance of his officials, retinue, court, concubines, and advisors.

After his death the office of Front Palace was left vacant until On 14 January 1886, when Chulalongkorn's son with Princess Consort Savang Vadhana was made Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis or Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Sayam Makutrajakuman.

The title of Front Palace, which was first created in 1688 by King Petracha of Ayutthaya was thus abolished and replaced with an heir apparent, whose succession is to be based on the principle of male primogeniture.