October 29, 2019--Just In From Thailand

With all that's happening, I won't fault you for not keeping up with the latest about the Thai king, Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayava Trangkun, and his consort, Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi.

Or should I say ex-consort.

It can get a little complicated in Thailand when it comes to consorts so let me attempt to clear up any confusion you may have, including how to spell their names.

What follows was reported in the New York Times. 

The royal consort of the king of Thailand was stripped of her title just months after she was given the rare designation, accused in a statement from the palace of disloyalty and trying to supplant the queen.

The king, who ascended the throne in 2016 on the death of his father, had appointed a royal consort less than three months ago, on his 67th birthday, and only two months after he married his fourth wife. 

The former consort who was a major general was also stripped of her military rank and decorations. She had previously been known as Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, which means loyal to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

In August, the website of the Royal Household Bureau posted dozens of photos of her, including one of her in an airplane cockpit wearing a camouflage-printed sports bra and another aiming an assault rifle while clad in combat gear and holding the king’s pet poodle.

The king is seldom seen in public and is said to spend much of his time in Germany, where he maintained a residence before ascending the throne. He is one of the world’s richest men with a fortune estimated to be worth at least $30 billion.

The consort appointment came soon after the announcement that King Maha Vajiralongkorn had married his fourth wife, Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, a former flight attendant.

Both Queen Suthida and then-General Sineenat participated in the king’s coronation, a $30 million affair that took place in May.

But after the king and queen married, Ms. Sineenat pressured the king not to install the queen but to make her queen instead, according to the palace statement.

Other offenses included being “insubordinate to the king and queen,” showing a “lack of gratitude” and “causing the royal household staff to be discordant.”

Many Thais see the monarch as a demigod. And Thailand has a law that makes it a crime to insult the king, queen, heir apparent, or regent. Such a crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

I doubt if the former general will do any jail time but she clearly needs to find a way to earn a living.

The king and his former consort

September 3, 2019--King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun

Did you know that the King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, has a "consort"? Maj. Gen. Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi.

When I read about this official consort in the Gray Lady New York Times more than anything else I wanted to share their names with you and the pleasure I took when trying to get them typed without any errors (forget pronunciation).

I can't begin to tell you what SpellCheck did to my efforts. The king's first name, Maha, for example, became Mama.

Now that you're interested, to quote Paul Harvey, here's the rest of the story.   

The position of noble consort, which typically refers to a companion of the monarch, is separate from that of queen. The queen title is held by Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya (more SpellCheck opportunities--Suthida became Soothed), a former flight attendant who is the king’s fourth wife. Queen Suthida later became a general and helped command the king’s bodyguards. 

General Sineenat was named a noble consort last month, on the king’s 67th birthday. It is a title that has not been conferred since Thailand abolished its absolute monarchy in 1932. Before taking up her consort duties, General Sineenat graduated from the Army Nursing College. She is now a member of the king’s bodyguard corps, with the rank of major general.

Both Queen Suthida and General Sineenat participated in the consort's coronation ceremonies, a catered $30 million affair in which the king received a 16-pound Great Crown of Victory.

On the official website of the Royal Household are photos of the consort sitting in an airplane cockpit, wearing a camouflage-printed sports bra, others are of her aiming an assault rifle and standing in combat gear with the king’s pet poodle in her arms. The dog is wearing what appears to be a black leather top.

Not exactly The King And I. But is a puzzlement.