Photograph: Royal Household Bureau, Read: The NEW REIGN of DIVISION HAS BEGUN in THAILAND, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Thus, Thailand had a new king and queen. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn gave himself a birthday present – a new royal consort, no less than three months after he wedded another woman, a former air stewardess. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn with former royal noble consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi. Her nickname is Koi, which means little finger. What The Ouster Of The Royal Consort May Say About Where Thailand Is Heading. She graduated from the Royal Thai Army Nursing College and worked as a nurse from 2008 to 2012. They can read the article in full after signing up for a free account. All rights reserved. He values his privacy (but not of his clients). He offers views on democracy, which was recorded for the delegates at the official launch of FORSEA, and the inaugural conference, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, February 16, 2019. Ms Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, 34, was stripped of her titles by King Maha Vajiralongkorn for being disloyal to the monarch and attempting to sabotage the appointment of Queen Suthida in May. In Thailand, Queen Suthida’s absence raises anxiety among royalists – and questions about royal consort Sineenat. A Royal consort is the spouse of a ruling king or queen. Capitalising on interest in his royal consort while trying to white-wash the King’s chequered past is a risky gamble and unlikely to endear him to his subjects. The reality is that the Thai crisis that erupted over a decade ago has created a deep fissure among Thais. One photo circulating shows the couple holding hands. We have been experiencing some problems with subscriber log-ins and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Sawaasdee ka! He is one of the leading doctors in the country. His coronation, however, took place only in May. In July, she was appointed Royal Noble Consort. This will depend on how much the monarchy can remain popular and compatible with Thailand’s changing norms. In this undated photo posted Aug. 26, 2019, on the Thailand Royal Office website, Thailand… It went viral on social media among Thais. Most comments made online about the appearance of Sineenat are a mix of real admiration and forced affection since criticisms of the monarchy are not tolerated. Then in July, the 67-year-old king made the rare move of bestowing the title of royal consort—such a designation hadn't been made in … Southeast Asian democrats and rights campaigners for fairness and democracy. In August, the palace released her official biography and a series of candid photos, including one of her wearing a crop top and another of her holding the King's hand. PHOTOS: THAILAND'S ROYAL OFFICE/AFP. Long known to be a notorious playboy, now married four times, Vajiralongkorn may not realise that the announcement of Sineenat’s new position, coupled with the release of more photographs of her, will only put the monarchy in the media spotlight and remind people of his infamy. A prince consort is the husband of a queen regnant who is not himself a king in his own right. THAILAND’s eccentric King has made his mistress a royal consort – in an awkward ceremony attended by his new wife. The final part of this coronation ceremony, involving a convoy of royal barges being rowed down the Chao Phraya River, was postponed last week from tomorrow to Dec 12. Shortly before her dismissal this week, Ms Sineenat was given the task of leading his volunteer programme. Thai royalists have drawn a line in the sand and defined Thai politics around the monarchy. Espoused opinions on the monarchy can be fiercely divisive. 198402868E. Thailand's royal consort gets the boot for inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour Back to video Sineenat, 34, was the first person to hold the title of Royal Noble Consort in almost a century. Chulalongkorn had 92 wives, and was the last king to practise the long-held culture of polygamy in the royal family. According to a report by newswire agency Agence France-Presse, there are at least five million of these volunteers in Thailand. “His royal highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days,″ the palace said in a statement. Supporters of the monarchy argue that Vajiralongkorn has embarked on a move to reinvent the Thai monarchy in his image, injecting a sense of modernity and trendiness. Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, 34, an army nurse, was elevated to the position of Chao Khun Phra, or noble consort, on Vajiralongkorn’s 67th birthday in July. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn standing with former royal noble consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani, also known as Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, while holding his cherished poodle The move marked the first time a Thai king has publicly had more than one partner since an absolute monarch ruled the country in 1932. (Reuters) This is … Photo: Wikipedia Commons. Philip, 99, has been hospitalized since being admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on Feb. 16, where he was treated for an infection. For the royal consorts of the predecessor realms of Scotland, England and Ireland, see List of Scottish consorts, List of English consorts and List of Irish consorts. It is a tall order to rescue King Vajiralongkorn’s image. More critical is also what the King’s move to elevate Sineenat’s position to noble consort and official recognition of his mistress means for the legitimisation of polygamy in a society that remains deeply chauvinistic. Royal noble consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani, also known as Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, has been stripped of all titles by Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Banner Image: Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn with royal noble consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn with former royal noble consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi. Ms Sineenat was also tapped as the lead adviser of a winter festival, Un Ai Rak. But the marriage did not last. King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida at an event in November 2020. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn gave himself a birthday present – a new royal consort, no less than three months after he wedded another woman, a former air stewardess. In Thailand, Queen Suthida's absence raises anxiety among royalists - and questions about royal consort Sineenat. Here’s a scandalous report from the BBC about me, which says that “Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn has stripped his royal consort of her rank and titles for ‘misbehaviour and disloyalty against the monarch’”. Ms Sineenat was born Niramon Ounprom in the northern province of Nan. Indeed, since the end of the Chulalongkorn reign, all successive kings had practised monogamy, with polygamy outlawed in 1935. King Vajiralongkorn and Queen … Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida attend the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. Those who are seen to be acting against the interests of the monarchy can be victims in this ruthless political game. In this context, the elevation of Sineenat has not only failed to shore up support for the monarchy and reinforce the king’s legitimacy, she has set Thailand back and sunk those fighting for equality of the sexes. In 2001, Vajiralongkorn married for the third time. Official photos also portray Sineenat as an able pilot, a devoted soldier, and a diligent young lady, presumably to convey a message of royalism, patriotism and female toughness. He divorced her in 2014, at the same time he was said to have started to see Suthida Tidjai, the current Queen of Thailand. The photos caused a stir, and Thailand's palace website to crash. The current Queen, Suthida, at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, 2019. Professor Naom Chomsky speaks to FORSEA. Some of them are intimate. The Thai royal noble consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi. No. And after appointing a noble consort, it’s a tall order to rescue King Vajiralongkorn’s image. His first wife is Princess Soamsawali – a marriage that was arranged in 1977 and produced one daughter – saw him start an affair with a rising actress, who he went on to father five children with. FORSEA Dialogues on Democratic Movements across Southeast Asia. An analyst who declined to be named said his action on Ms Sineenat confirms his leadership style: "He is in control, and no one shall take advantage of his generosity.". Until we resolve the issues, subscribers need not log in to access ST Digital articles. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn stripped his 34-year-old consort of all royal and military titles on Monday evening, in a shock move less than … This shift went well with emerging new social norms elsewhere that champion a move towards a more egalitarian society and gender equality, even when in reality, Thai society has continued to suffer from the lack of female voices. An undated file photo of Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi released by the Royal Palace in August 2019. Prince Andrew, sex scandals and paternity suits: the biggest royal controversies Share gift link below with your friends and family. A royal consort is the spouse of a ruling king or queen. But given Thailand's harsh lese majeste law, social media users tended to limit themselves to coded statements online. She has undergone military training and is also a qualified pilot. A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 23, 2019, with the headline 'Thai royal consort given duties just before dismissal'. On Thai social media, #SaveKoi was one of the top trending hashtags yesterday. The volunteers are also deployed as ushers at big public events. A New Royal Consort Raises Uncomfortable Questions about the Role of Royalty in Thailand. Little is known about the current Queen and what has transpired because Thais face a jail sentence of anything from three to 15 years for any critical comments on members of the royal family under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. Before her dismissal, Ms Sineenat held the rank of Major-General in the king's royal bodyguard unit where Queen Suthida was the deputy chief. Photograph: Royal Household Bureau. All done! This latest development, while originally contained within the walls of the palace, has now raised the stakes on whether the monarchy can still be seen as the beacon of morality for Thailand. But a log-in is still required for our PDFs. Through the decades this has been a controversial role or title Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his newly named royal consort of her titles and military ranks for being "disloyal" and conducting a rivalry with Queen Suthida, the palace said late on Monday. 1 / 10. Credit: Photo: Thailand Royal Office. October 21, 2019 7:45 pm. Thailand's king has stripped his royal noble consort of her titles and military ranks for disloyalty, accusing her of seeking to undermine the position of his official wife for her own benefit. In recognition of his status, a prince consort may be given a formal title, such as prince or prince consort, with prince being the most common. Thailand's royal palace has released candid photographs of the king's newly-anointed consort, offering a rare and intimate window into the lives of the Thai royals. Both events greatly surprised the Thai public. Those photos of her strolling in Munich with Vajiralongkorn in a tiny tank top with fake tattoos could hardly make her a serious defender of the monarchy in the eyes of Thais. It was the first such appointment in almost a century, long before the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. Both events greatly surprised the Thai public. After that, she joined the Royal Household Bureau, working in the palace's handicraft store. In Thailand, Senior Palace Officials Fired After Ouster Of Royal Consort A member of the Royal Household Bureau and five members of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's personal bodyguard were fired … Photograph: Royal Household Bureau. After three failed marriages, Vajiralongkorn himself has seemed to lose interest in fulfilling the institution’s role in projecting family values. Additionally, they have raised crucial questions of what this means for the direction of Thailand’s monarchy and its popular support. Thai consort stripped of title for sabotaging Queen’s appointment: Who are the 2 women? Standing Up to the Giant: Analysing Vietnam’s Efforts in the South China Sea, Militaries in Politics: Thailand and the Philippines, Militias & Democratization in Southeast Asia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUWiuDs2PHQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6zr9cD5NyY, Our ASEAN Region has Flawed Democracies, Not Full Democracies, Thongchai Winichakul: Democratic Movements across Southeast Asia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX5jJl4w0XM&t=5470s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TogWLK7eiuA&t=44s, Homage to Gwangju and Salute to South Korean Democrats and Rights Activists, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV2KFnsfYPk&t=481s. The King, 67, ascended the throne in 2016 after the 70-year reign of his revered father Bhumibol Adulyadej. SPH Digital News / Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. These can only cast more shadow on his early reign. Self-censorship on matters relating to the monarchy is common in Thailand as someone who insults or defames the king, queen, heir apparent or regent can be jailed for up to 15 years on each count. The King has consolidated power since taking the throne, most recently by taking personal control of two army units. She became the first woman to receive such a prominent rank in nearly a century. Fall of a royal consort: How Thailand's new king has shown his assertive reign. Thailand's king stunned observers on Monday by stripping his royal consort of her rank and titles, just months after she was granted the honours.The new … Earlier this month, she was given the task of leading the King's volunteer programme. The year-end event featuring cultural performances and stalls run by people wearing traditional Thai outfits, is held every year near the Bangkok palace. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkor has named his mistress as his 'chao khun phra' or royal noble consort in front of his wife, the Thai Queen, in a ceremony on his 67th birthday. Consorts don’t have no constitutional status or power but many have significant influence over their spouses. The future of monarchy rests on the adaptability of the institution to changing political and social norms. Read 3 articles daily and stand to win ST rewards, including the ST News Tablet worth $398. THE BIG STORY: Dismissal of Thai royal consort | The Straits Times, Thai King dismisses royal consort for being 'ungrateful', trying to sabotage Queen's appointment. JSTOR (September 2019) This article lists the royal consorts of monarchs of Thailand from the foundation of … By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy. A few weeks after the televised anointment ceremony of Sineenat, whose full name is now Sineenat Bilaskalayani, the royal household released a set of the couple’s photos, breaking away from the royal tradition of conservatism.