[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] On the 21st (local time), British media such as The Times reported that those opposing the reinstatement of Sininat Wongvajirapakdi (35), the consort of King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand (68), are spreading her past nude photos overseas.
According to The Times, over 1,000 nude photos, presumed to have been taken by Sininat herself between 2012 and 2014, were sent to British journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall, who has written articles critical of the Thai monarchy.
Marshall explained on Facebook, "Dozens of the images are very explicit. It is possible that Sininat took them to send to King Maha Vajiralongkorn," and suggested that these photos appear to have been leaked with the intent to obstruct Sininat's reinstatement.
It is also known that Thai scholar Pavin Chachavalpongpun, who was prosecuted after criticizing the Thai monarchy and currently lives in Japan, received these photos as well.
Prior to his accession, King Vajiralongkorn had been married and divorced three times. In May 2016, he married his current fourth queen, Suthida (41). However, less than three months after their marriage, an event was held in which Sininat, a former nurse at a military hospital, was officially granted the title of "King's Consort" in the presence of Queen Suthida.
However, in October of the same year, Sininat was stripped of her status for "not understanding the royal traditions and not obeying the king and queen." But last September, the king decided to reinstate Sininat after 11 months, restoring both her status and rank as "King's Consort."
It is unknown who spread Sininat's nude photos currently circulating overseas, but The Times reported, "This incident appears to be related to the rivalry and relationship between the king's consort and his wife, the queen."
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