All articles tagged with #thai monarchy
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, died at age 47 after nearly four years in a coma following heart problems in December 2022. Her death raises questions about succession within Thailand’s monarchy, which is tightly controlled by lese-majeste laws that limit public discussion.
Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Vajiralongkorn and a prominent royal figure, has died after more than three years in a coma following a December 2022 collapse linked to a heart infection. Her death removes a leading potential successor and raises questions about Thailand’s royal future at a time when the throne has traditionally favored male heirs, though a 1974 amendment allows a queen. Bajrakitiyabha was a lawyer, diplomat, and advocate for penal reform, later serving as UNODC’s Ambassador for the Rule of Law in Southeast Asia and, in 2021, as chief of staff to the king’s private bodyguard with the rank of general.
Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit, a renowned style icon and influential figure in the country's postwar monarchy and rural development, has died at 93 after a period of illness, prompting a year-long mourning and a royal funeral. She was celebrated for her fashion sense, charity work, and political influence, and is survived by her son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and three daughters.