Thai king strips 'disloyal' royal consort of all titles

Former royal bodyguard Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, known as 'Koi', was given the title on the king's 67th birthday this year

(FILES) In this file undated handout from Thailand's Royal Office received on August 26, 2019, royal noble consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani, also known as Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, is seen. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his 34-year-old consort of all titles, the palace announced October 21, a shock move less than three months after she was bestowed with a position that had not been used for nearly a century. - -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / THAILAND'S ROYAL OFFICE " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS  
 / AFP / THAILAND'S ROYAL OFFICE / Handout / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / THAILAND'S ROYAL OFFICE " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
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Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his Royal Consort of all titles for "disloyalty" and apparent ambition to match the Queen's position, a command issued late on Monday said.

Former royal bodyguard Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, 34, known by her nickname "Koi", was given the title on the king's 67th birthday on July 28, the first time in nearly a century that a Thai monarch has taken a consort.

A few days later the palace released images of the short-haired Ms Sineenat in combat fatigues shooting weapons, flying a jet, preparing to parachute from a plane, and holding the king's hand.

It was an intimate and rare glimpse into the private life of Thailand's monarch, known as Rama X of the Chakri dynasty.

But on Monday Ms Sineenat's swift and public downfall was relayed on national television.

She was dismissed from the rank of Chao Khun Phra, or noble consort, for disloyalty to the king, the command, said, and for "acting against the appointment of the Queen [Suthida] for her own ambitions".

Ms Suthida, the former deputy head of the royal bodyguard, was made Queen in May, becoming King Vajiralongkorn's fourth wife.

Rama X has asserted his authority since his 2016 ascension to the throne, putting the large wealth of the crown under his direct control and restructuring key army units to his command.

Ms Sineenat "does not give any honour to the king and does not understand royal tradition. Her actions are to benefit herself", the royal statement said.

Her behaviour is "deemed disrespectful to His Majesty's grace and caused divisions among courtiers and misunderstanding among the people".

She was stripped of all military ranks, decorations and royal titles, it said.

Born in the northern province of Nan on January 26, 1985, Ms Sineenat graduated from the Royal Thai Army Nursing College at the age of 23.

She has also trained as a pilot in Thailand and abroad, served in the King's royal bodyguard unit, and in May was awarded the rank of major general.

During the elaborate three-day coronation ceremony of the king in May, Ms Sineenat marched in full military uniform in a procession that travelled from the palace to several Buddhist temples.

Her prominence stunned the Thai public, who often glean clues of the royal family's secretive behaviour through imagery and symbolism relayed by the palace.

Ms Sineenat's dramatic fall from grace is likely to be carefully dissected over coming days.

"The abrupt move by the king tells us that he wishes to be seen as a very in-charge monarch who will not put up with possible divisions in the royal institution," said analyst Paul Chambers of Naresuan University.

The conservative, arch-royalist military, which has carried out a dozen coups since the 1932 establishment of a constitutional monarchy, ensures frank discussion of palace affairs is rare among the Thai public.

Rama X came to power in 2016 after the death of his father Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was widely revered by Thais and seen as a figure of moral authority.

The new king, a cycling and aviation enthusiast, is a more remote figure to the public, having spent much of his time abroad, particularly in Germany.

His three-day coronation gave many Thais their first full glimpse of the new monarch, as he was carried on a palanquin in full regalia around Bangkok's historic quarter.