Henceforth, we shall be happy to be a free citizen in an independent country.

His father was King Khải Định of Annam. "keeper of greatness" 22 October 1913 – 30 July 1997) born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy (阮福永瑞) was the 13th and final emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty which was the last dynasty of Vietnam. The couple had five children: Crown Prince Bảo Long (4 January 1936 – 28 July 2007) Princess Phuong Mai (born 1 August 1937) Princess Phuong Lien (born 3 November 1938) Princess Phuong Dung (born 5 February 1942) and Prince Bảo Thắng (born 9 December 1943).

He was the chief of state of the State of Vietnam (South Vietnam) from 1949 until 1955. Bảo Đại was criticized for being too closely associated with France and spending much of his time outside of Vietnam. Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm ousted him in a fraudulent referendum vote in 1955.