- There appears to be a growing palace purge in Thailand’s royal court.
- King Maha Vajiralongkorn has fired 11 officials, and stripped them of their royal titles, over the course of one week.
- One of them was his royal consort, whom the palace accused of plotting against the queen and disrespecting the royal couple.
- He accused the 10 others of “extremely evil misconduct,” “adultery,” and being “lax” in their duties, among other things.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
The King of Thailand has fired ten more royal officials after stripping his royal consort of all her titles and privileges in what appears to be a growing palace purge.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn has removed a total of 11 people from the palace over the course of a week. Here’s what we know about them, according to a series of palace announcements:
- Four officials – identified as two bedroom guards and two military officers – were fired and stripped of all their ranks and titles, the palace announced on Tuesday, as reported by Reuters.
- The bedroom guards were engaged in “extremely evil misconduct” and “adultery.” There were no specifics on their actions, but the palace said they violate the courtiers’ code of conduct.
- The two military officers, who worked as palace guards, were “lax” in their duties and “behaving unbecomingly of their ranks and titles.” Again, there were no further details of what they are actually accused of doing.
- Six other palace officials, including a woman, a senior police official and two royal guards, were fired and stripped of all their official ranks last Wednesday.
- The palace accused them of “severe disciplinary misconduct and deeds that are considered extremely evil,” without giving specifics.
- Last Monday, the king also stripped his royal consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi – known to his longtime girlfriend – of her royal title and military rank.
- The palace accused her of plotting against the queen, another girlfriend whom the king married this May, and disrespecting the royal couple.
Since ascending to the throne after the death of his father, King Bhumibol, in 2016, King Maha Vajiralongkorn has assumed more direct control over palace affairs and money, Reuters reported.
His official coronation, which took place this May, reportedly cost the Thai government $31 million and involved him wearing a 16-pound crown topped with an Indian diamond.
Earlier this month he also issued an emergency royal decree to assume personal control over two key army units, without explaining what the emergency was.
Though the king is technically commander-in-chief of the country's forces, the new decree bypassed the usual military chain of command.
The latest sackings are giving the world a rare glimpse into Thai palace life. The country has strict lèse-majesté laws, which means it's illegal to insult, defame, or threaten any member of the royal family.
- Read more:
- Everything we know about Thailand's eccentric king, who married his bodyguard, gave his dog a 4-day funeral, and is legally immune from bad press
- The king of Thailand abruptly stripped all royal titles from his 34-year-old consort, who is accused of plotting against the queen to take her place
- A YouTuber is facing criminal charges for shading a Miss Universe dress designed by a Thai princess because in Thailand it's illegal to insult the monarchy
- The king of Thailand married his bodyguard in a lavish surprise ceremony where he poured sacred water on her head