'Privacy Controversy' Surrounds Thai King... Grand Birthday Celebration Held
On the 27th (local time), a royal barge procession was held on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, to celebrate the 72nd birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (left). Next to King Vajiralongkorn is Queen Suthida (46). [Photo by AP Bangkok / Yonhap News]
A grand celebration was held to commemorate the birthday of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn (72), who has been embroiled in controversy due to his scandalous private life.
On the 27th (local time), the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, was adorned with a magnificent royal barge decorated in gold and dozens of traditional barges. Major royal barges such as Suphannahong, Narai Song Suban, Anantanakarat, and Anekchitphuchong carried the King along with Queen Suthida, Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, and Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti.
The golden barge procession, manned by 2,200 helmsmen from the Royal Thai Navy, is a ceremony with a long history in Thailand and is held only on auspicious national occasions. This ceremony marked the third time during King Vajiralongkorn's reign, following the 2019 coronation and the royal robe offering ceremony last October.
What particularly drew attention that day was Queen Suthida, the King's fourth wife, seated beside him. King Vajiralongkorn, known for his numerous relationships, married Queen Suthida in 2019 after three divorces. However, two months after their fourth wedding ceremony, he officially acknowledged his consort Sineenat, who is 33 years his junior, by giving her the title of spouse. This is the first time in about 100 years that a Thai king has had a consort.
On the 27th (local time), a royal barge procession was held on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, to celebrate the 72nd birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (left). [Photo by AP, Bangkok / Yonhap News]
King Vajiralongkorn, who ascended the throne in December 2016, has been the subject of controversy due to his complicated private life, extravagant behavior, and living abroad. He caused a scandal in the past by holding a birthday party for his pet dog while his third wife was half-naked, and in 2017, he was photographed in a German shopping mall wearing a belly shirt and tattoo stickers while accompanied by a woman, which sparked public criticism.
At that time, local netizens expressed their anger by launching a hashtag campaign titled '#why do we need a king,' which was shared over one million times. Additionally, hundreds of thousands joined anti-monarchy groups created on social networking services (SNS).
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