or. It is the first time that a Thai king has effectively practised polygamy since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932 and amounts to official recognition of rumours about his womanising. That has never been a sentiment embraced by his only son. See more of Daily Mail on Facebook. The crown prince has spent much of his time away from the public eye, but in recent years he has stepped in at some official ceremonies as his father's health declined. Then there is his messy love life — the 68-year-old is on his fourth wife, whose company he shares with his official concubine, recently back in favour after a brief and brutal hiatus.Â. Create New Account. What a time to be alive. or. He married his first wife in 1977, a cousin, Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara, with whom he has a daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha in 1978. As an adolescent he studied at two public schools in Britain, including King's Mead School, Seaford, Sussex, and then at Millfield School, Somerset. Thai snake wrestlers captured an angry and injured King Cobra that had climbed a … 15:16 EST 01 May 2019. See more of Daily Mail on Facebook. Thailand’s elites have long loathed Maha’s violent mood swings, odd fetishes and the scandals in which he became mired. Many others have disappeared. Maha’s fourth wife, former air stewardess Suthida Tidjai, tied the knot with him in 2019. Romantic feelings later blossom between the King and tutor. Long live the king ... Email or Phone: Password: Forgot account? Email or Phone: Password: Forgot account? or. Thailand's lese majeste laws also make it illegal to defame, threaten, or even insult 'the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent'. Life can’t have been easy for any of Maha’s wives, especially given his desire to base himself increasingly in Bavaria, where he sent one of his sons to school. In 2007, footage published online showed the couple throwing a party for his pet poodle - who held the rank of Air Chief Marshall - at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. ‘I am not afraid if the criticism concerns what I do wrong ... the king can do wrong.’. What is wrong with you people?' But never at home. See more of Daily Mail on Facebook. No wonder the Thai people are rebelling against him, writes JANE FRYER By Jane Fryer for the Daily Mail Published: 17:01 EST, 21 October 2020 | Updated: 23:22 EST, 21 October 2020 media caption In July Sineenat knelt in front of the Thai king and was anointed as his royal consort. So Maha left for home — no doubt in his personalised Boeing 737 — and is now ensconced in one of the Thai royal family’s many palaces, as increasingly outspoken and violent demonstrations take place in the streets. Press alt + / to open this menu. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Thai junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha announced that the Crown Prince would ascend the throne with tthe statement: 'The government will inform the National Legislative Assembly that His Majesty the King appointed his heir on Dec. 28, 1972. 'Long live the King' dailymail.co.uk | By Daily Mail Celebrity Chadwick Boseman hailed by Marvel with Black Panther tribute on day he would have turned 44 His military career was interrupted in 1978 so he could be ordained for a season as a Buddhist monk, as is customary for all Thai Buddhist men. Sky News. Media/News Company. Bhumibol may have been the richest monarch in the world, with a lifestyle to match, but his people believed he was a good man and respected him all the more when, in 2005, he accepted that even he was not perfect. By Log In. Because in Thailand the laws of lèse-majesté (offending the dignity of a reigning monarch) ensure the royal family is held above criticism, let alone mockery. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Thai king announces his marriage ahead of coronation - CNN. Media/News Company. Or he could risk losing his crown altogether. The pecking order at home was all too clear. The Royal Thai Navy’s 1st Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment erected a statue of King Taksin the Great as another memorial to the king who liberated Siam from Burmese occupation. It was a shocking turnaround for a country where people are taught from birth to worship the monarch, plaster homes and public buildings with his image, celebrate Father’s Day on his birthday and leap to their feet for the national anthem. See more of Daily Mail on Facebook. Thank you for using your gift to bring light to this world.' Embattled TV host insists she feels '100%' as she's spotted with mask down picking up groceries after testing positive for COVID ten days ago, Prince Harry and Prince William have exchanged presents in signs of a Christmas 'truce', a royal biographer claims - with Meghan using her calligraphy skills to write to sign the cards, Meghan and Harry reveal first donation from their new charity Archewell's with go to World Kitchen run by Chef Jose AndreÂ, Fox News debunks election fraud claims made by three of its OWN hosts after electronic voting company threatens legal action over 'rigged' tech claims, Olympic boxer, 52, accused of strangling his daughter, 25, to death in Staten Island park is extradited from Egypt to face trial in New York. “The king’s behavior during the coronavirus crisis has been a disaster for the reputation of the Thai monarchy,” explained activist Andrew MacGregor Marshall. Afp BANGKOK, Nov 29 — Thai anti-government protesters challenged today King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s personal control over some army units to condemn the military’s role in politics. All of which has made him an international laughing stock: Prince ‘Bling Bling’, the bully playboy. Thais are growing increasingly irritated, weary and embarrassed by King Maha. The King of Thailand travelled 12,000 miles to a party during the coronavirus lockdown after booking out an entire hotel with 20 girlfriends.. King Maha Vajiralongkorn – also known as Rama X – left the hotel in Germany to pick up his wife Queen Suthida in … Daily Mail. Media/News Company. The protesters have broken a longstanding taboo by criticising the king, and police summoned many of the best-known protest … or. The Thai King made his first public comments on the pro-democracy demonstrations that have gripped the country for more than four months in an … Since he took the throne four years ago, Maha has steadily amassed power, taking personal control of crown property and all royal funds, assuming direct command of troops, meddling in the supposedly democratic process of government and even amending Thailand’s constitution to allow him to rule from abroad. A pro-democracy protester wears chains and make-up during a demonstration at a road intersection in Bangkok on October 15Â. Thailand News daily courtesy of The Thaiger featuring articles and breaking news in Thailand from local reporters, plus videos and more. Despite holding a number of military titles, including Knight of the Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems, the prince admitted to an interviewer he was unable to tie his own shoe laces aged 12 because courtiers had always done it for him. BANGKOK: Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s praise for a man who held up a royal portrait at a protest site in Bangkok has drawn controversy in … Afp Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn greets supporters as he walks to participate in a candle lighting ceremony to mark the anniversary of the birth of late King Bhumibol ... Free daily … A pro-democracy protester shout slogans against riot police during an anti-government demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand on October 16, 2020. It was with his third wife, Srirasmi Suwadee, a former waitress who had been in his service since 1992, that he bought Foo Foo, the white toy poodle that in 2007 — and by then elevated to Air Chief Marshal — was an official guest at a reception held by the U.S. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Thai King Allegedly Ruling His Nation From German Ski Resort The Daily Beast 14:23 16-Dec-20 As Protesters Challenge Monarchy, Thai King Adopts More Approachable Image VICE News 10:53 16-Dec-20 Thai King says he feels 'sad' on some days just like … Photos show Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya, a former Thai Airways flight attendant, laying on the floor as she was given a gift by the king during the marriage ceremony. Log In. and Thai royal traditions dictate that the ruling king is to be regarded as god-like and semi-divine, and as a result, he must sit higher than everyone else, to the point that, during official ceremonies and speeches, his feet should be elevated above everyone else's heads. Danyal Hussain For Mailonline A father-of-seven, he has three failed marriages, a love of fast jets and a reputation for having an explosive temper. or. When Foo Foo passed away in 2015, Maha gave the dog a lavish four-day funeral. Accessibility Help. Create New Account. Princess Srirasmi, a former waitress, who sang happy birthday to the dog topless, also got on her knees and ate from a dog bowl in the same video. Log In. Not Now. , updated Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has married his long-term consort and given her the title Queen Suthida just days before his coronation, in a surprise move. Until now. Now, with crowds baying in the streets, King Maha might do well to step back and reconsider his golden furniture, lackeys and harem. After the death of King Bhumibol, political activity was paused during a … Marks first time a Thai king has publicly had more than one partner since an absolute monarch ruled in 1932 ... Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. The crown prince has spent much of his time away from the public eye, living overseas in Germany, but in recent years he has stepped in at some official ceremonies as his father's health declined. He was drafted in as King in October 2016, 50 days after the death of his father, the highly revered Bhumibol Adulyadej. PM grilled by a mother for messy barnet, Horrific moment speeding car kills couple crossing road, Matt Matt Hancock: 'Police will stop people leave Tier 4', Crowds flee London after tough Tier 4 restrictions were announced, Couple reacts to Tier 4 update as Christmas plans are cancelled, Police on scene near Putney station after reports of illegal rave. And there is his bizarre obsession with his late poodle Foo Foo, whom he liked to dress in full Royal Thai Air Force regalia, including ‘paw mitts’, and seat at official dinners. or. It was not immediately clear what role Queen Suthida will play in the ceremony.Â, Thailand's new king is well known for his eccentricity.Â, In 2016, he was spotted wearing a tight, white crop top, his body adorned with temporary tattoos and holding a white fluffy poodle, while standing next to his consort.Â. Forgot account? Under the rule of Maha’s late father King Bhumibol, who reigned from 1946 until his death in 2016, this was easier to swallow. The king has not made any … They also had to compete with his extensive harem, most of whom were recruited from military units and organised into their own regiment. The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent. Sign Up. King Bling’s ostentation is matched only by the aggression with which he pursues anyone who criticises him. Maha also regularly insists that courtiers crawl on their knees towards him, orders anyone out of his favour to have their head shaved, and once made a wife eat out of Foo Foo’s dog bowl while she was semi-naked.Â, A Royal Household Bureau handout photo shows Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun wearing a crown during the coronation ceremony at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, 04 May 2019, In this photo released by Bureau of the Royal Household, Thailand's King Bodindradebayavarangkun, right, presents a gift to Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya at Ampornsan Throne Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 1, 2019, There are many reasons why King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand may not inspire unwavering respect from his 70 million subjects. 09:34 EST 01 May 2019 To mark the occasion, Maha released a glossy photo of her flying a plane while wearing a camouflage-pattern sports bra. Thai king 'releases his concubine from jail and flies her to Germany to join his harem' a year after she was stripped of royal titles. They are worshipped and idolised: saying one word against the king, queen, heir apparent or regent — or even their pets — has traditionally led to 15 years in prison. 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Nine months after his daughter was born, the prince had a son with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth, with whom he went on to have a total of five children and a tumultuous relationship. 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