Over time Bhumibol added to his personal power with ritual and prestige. Many Thais are finding it hard to venerate the new king, Maha Vajiralongkorn. Thailand is unusual among constitutional monarchies in having a potent lèse majesté law – a prohibition on insulting the royal family. Decoding the mysterious monarchy that has provoked massive protests. Protesters have started turning up to demonstrations in similar attire, a satirical comment not just on the king’s surprising sartorial choice but what they see as his wider rejection of Thailand and the standards of propriety demanded by his office. For most of history, the Chakris were just another absolutist dynasty. In 2018 the bodies of two Thai campaigners against the monarchy were found in the Mekong river in Laos, close to the border with Thailand. The network appeared to confirm it was removing the video at the request of the government. Until recently, people rarely mentioned the royal family in public except to proclaim … The crown and the crop top: the king of Thailand in six objects - Flipboard The Thai king, the crop top, and a poodle. King Bhumibol, a man who projected seriousness and dignity, even wrote a book about his pet mongrel Tondaeng, extolling the virtues of canine obedience. It was widely seen as a prescription for the Thai people. For years demonstrators in Thailand have staged intermittent protests against the coup-happy army (which is allied to the royal family) and its hold over the political realm. As Time magazine wrote in 1966, “(The) men who run Thailand are well aware that their youthful king is their – and the nation’s – greatest living asset.” The long line of the Chakri dynasty belies a frailty at its heart: the friends, and compromises, it has been forced to make to survive. The following year the bureau announced it had transferred all its holdings to Vajiralongkorn himself, removing the last element of ambiguity about whose money it was. With the Southeast Asian nation facing an uncertain future with the death of its revered monarch on Thursday, a … Dogs have featured heavily in the life of Thai monarchs. His many assets include a large shareholding in the Siam Cement Group: the lorries and mixers of this industrial giant are ubiquitous, a daily reminder of the king’s economic clout. He apparently holed up in a hotel in Bavaria at the start of the coronavirus pandemic (at a time when all such establishments were ordered to close). The bonhomie masked a grittier relationship. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkor will take the throne following the death of … Information about the bureau’s activities is limited, but it is known to control large amounts of property in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, some of it highly prized (the bureau was reported to have demanded only peppercorn rent for a sprawling plot it leased to the American government for the ambassador’s residence). The crown’s height is supposed to evoke the summit of Mount Meru, the heart of the universe in Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies. Even his mother once described Vajiralongkorn as a “bit of a Don Juan” and suggested he might have to change his ways or quit the royal family. The aura of a quaint, benignly ruled country that Thailand used to project to outsiders is fading. When he was crown prince he reportedly appointed Foo Foo as an air chief marshal. Thailand is putting the squeeze on Facebook to remove dozens of pages that have video of King Maha Vajiralongkorn wearing a crop top. They don’t have an official leader. To many Thais the new king, Maha Vajiralongkorn (pronounced Wa-cheera-long-kon) is less worthy of veneration: he is on his fourth marriage, spends most of his time in Germany and has sought to accumulate personal wealth and power, most recently by taking direct command of two army units in Bangkok. Image source: ibtimes.com. Friends with benefits Beware expensive gifts. The foreign ministry recently warned Vajiralongkorn not to conduct affairs of state from German soil. The Economist - The monarchy has long been treated with deference in Thailand. These items help decode the mysterious monarchy that has provoked massive protests in Bangkok as young Thais brave harsh prohibitions on insulting the royal family. In an unprecedented show of defiance, they are not only talking about the monarchy but openly criticising the way it operates. Foo Foo also became a symbol for the playboy prince’s lifestyle. Come for the gold niello turtle presented to Lyndon Johnson’s baby grandson, and stay for the diamond-embellished vine-woven bags given to Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush when each was First Lady. And they have a radical new agenda: wide-ranging reform of the monarchy itself. Rice exports in 2014 amounted to 1.3 percent of GDP. “At one point during the band’s second number, he jumped up onto the head table and began lapping from the guests’ water glasses.” When Foo Foo died in 2015, four days of mourning were held for him, complete with Buddhist prayers, before he was cremated. Agriculture in Thailand is highly competitive, diversified and specialized and its exports are very successful internationally. The aura of a quaint, benignly ruled country that Thailand used to project to outsiders is fading. These items help decode the mysterious monarchy that has provoked massive protests … King Bhumibol and his wife Queen Sirikit toured America twice in the 1960s, appearing on a TV chat show and hanging out with Elvis Presley. Rice is the country's most important crop, with some 60 percent of Thailand's 13 million farmers growing it on fully half of Thailand's cultivated land. But it’s a friendship with strings attached: there’s a murkier side to the bountiful displays of support and affection. The prince clutched Foo Foo as the couple sang “Happy Birthday” (it’s not clear to whom), and then the princess crouched before the prince and his dog, offering up birthday cake from a silver dish. In theory the Thai monarchy acts as a unifying force and, like its British counterpart, stays out of politics. King Bhumibol and his wife, Queen Sirikit, toured America twice in the 1960s, appearing on a TV chat show and hanging out with Elvis Presley. The bonhomie masked a grittier relationship. But it’s a friendship with strings attached: there’s a murkier side to the bountiful displays of support and affection. The deliberate opacity of the monarchy doesn’t help. His body was even adorned in FAKE tattoos. The coronation jewels are a potent emblem of a powerful monarchy to which some older Thais feel an almost religious devotion. Getty Images. Thailand agreed to host the American B-52 bombers that pummelled Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos during the Vietnam war. Paraic O'Brien Correspondent. When Bhumibol (pronounced Poom-ee-pon) died in 2016, he was succeeded by his son and heir – a very different public figure. Protesters often focus their anger on the vast fortune of the royal family. His fame began with a bizarre video which began circulating on the internet in 2009 showing Vajiralongkorn sat at a table with his third wife, Princess Srirasmi, who was wearing only a G-string. The king rarely gives interviews and the mainstream press is not allowed to probe his role (in a rare interview Vajiralongkorn gave as crown prince in the 1980s, he complained at being the subject of false rumours). The king’s unorthodox lifestyle is a growing headache for the government in Germany, too. Help using this website - Accessibility statement, estimated wealth of more than $US40 billion ($54 billion), Back to Bali: the expats riding out the pandemic in paradise, Bank of Japan extends support as infections surge, Wuhan residents hope WHO finds virus origins, Indonesia pledges free vaccines as Brazil slams CoronaVac. Despite attempts by the generals in Bangkok to scrub these images from Facebook, it’s a look that has been noticed back home. Thailand warns Facebook after video shared on site seems to show country's king in crop top https://t.co/M7jCGO155d — New York Times World (@nytimesworld) May 16, 2017. Getty. Their demands include the right to criticise the royal family, a reduction in its spending and removal from the school curriculum of material glorifying the monarchy. King Maha Vajiralongkorn in a croptop in Munich. King Bhumibol, a man who projected seriousness and dignity, even wrote a book about his pet mongrel Tondaeng, extolling the virtues of canine obedience. Thailand is a major exporter in the world rice market. Follow developments here. His fame began with a bizarre video which began circulating on the internet in 2009 showing Vajiralongkorn sat at a table with his third wife, Princess Srirasmi, who was wearing only a g-string. At a gala dinner for a jazz band from New Orleans, the dog attended wearing “formal evening attire complete with paw mitts”, according to an account relayed in a diplomatic cable later published by WikiLeaks. But a long history of coups by the palace’s allies in the army (most recently in 2014) suggests otherwise. On display were the extravagant gifts Thai monarchs have bestowed on occupants of the White House. When Bhumibol ascended the throne in 1946 he was only 18, and at first depended heavily on generals, business and bureaucratic elites and foreign diplomats. Crop-tops, mistresses and flying poodles: Meet the next King of Thailand. Those who started the current protests in Bangkok are remarkable for their youth – some are still at school. Over time Bhumibol added to his personal power with ritual and prestige. Things are different this time. To many Thais the new king, Maha Vajiralongkorn (pronounced Wa-cheera-long-kon) is less worthy of veneration: he is on his fourth marriage, spends most of his time in Germany and has sought to accumulate personal wealth and power, most recently by taking direct command of two army units in Bangkok. But a long history of coups by the palace’s allies in the army (most recently in 2014) suggests otherwise. Despite attempts by the generals in Bangkok to scrub these images from Facebook, it’s a look that has been noticed back home. With a total estimated wealth of more than $US40 billion ($54 billion), Vajiralongkorn is among the richest monarchs in the world. It’s the kind of surreal behaviour that has only added to the air of menace and unpredictability surrounding Vajiralongkorn. Thai officials ordered that the snaps of King Maha Vajiralongkorn be wiped from the web by 10am … Within this informal alliance everyone worked to promote their mutual interests, a form of monarchical governance so unusual that a new term was coined to describe it: the “network monarchy”. Taking the king’s name in vain can lead to a prison sentence of 15 years. The king also proved to be a valuable propaganda asset: as a Western-friendly monarch, he stood in contrast to the communists who were sweeping to power in other parts of the region. Dogs have featured heavily in the life of Thai monarchs. And they have a radical new agenda: wide-ranging reform of the monarchy itself. Protesters often focus their anger on the vast fortune of the royal family. The following year the bureau announced it had transferred all its holdings to Vajiralongkorn himself, removing the last element of ambiguity about whose money it was. That’s a weighty legacy to bear. The economy boomed under Bhumibol, thanks more to foreign investment and tourism than the agricultural initiatives he championed, like cloud-seeding. Tondaeng had been a street dog and the message was clear for all: loyalty is not about pedigree, and everyone should know their place. Of course, not forgetting his white poodle in hand. The potential dangers of opposing the Thai royal family are real. It’s the kind of surreal behaviour that has only added to the air of menace and unpredictability surrounding Vajiralongkorn. The three-fingered salute of Katniss Everdeen and her fellow freedom-fighters had been used by protesters before in Thailand, but it has become the iconic image of the current demonstrations. Sold short: confessions of a young banker. On display were the extravagant gifts Thai monarchs have bestowed on occupants of the White House. What happened to Xi's 'project of the century'? Decoding the mysterious monarchy that has provoked massive protests. Protesters have started turning up to demonstrations in similar attire, a satirical comment not just on the king’s surprising sartorial choice but what they see as his wider rejection of Thailand and the standards of propriety demanded by his office. T he monarchy has long been treated with deference in Thailand. The house of Chakri – and those who benefit from it – do not take challenges lightly. In July 2017 Vajiralongkorn personally took over managing the bureau. Then, in 1932, an uprising by military officers and bureaucrats forced the monarchy to accept some democratic changes, like a parliament. King Vajiralongkorn has said that Thailand is a ”land of compromise”, but many reckon the biggest scenes in this drama are still to come. Until recently, people rarely mentioned the royal family in public except to proclaim their loyalty to it. He pursued archaic practices such as an annual ploughing ceremony, held to mark the start of the rice-growing season, and reinstated a custom that individuals prostrate themselves before the monarch (a predecessor had stopped this in the 19th century, regarding it as demeaning). Members of Bavaria’s state parliament have asked whether the king is liable to pay tax locally. Facebook blocks video of Thailand's King wearing a crop top. The coronation jewels are a potent emblem of a powerful monarchy to which some older Thais feel an almost religious devotion. The monarchy has long been treated with deference in Thailand. The murderers have never been identified. In Thailand King Vajiralongkorn is most often seen parading in his royal regalia, complete with a colourful array of medals. The man once infamous for his mistresses, crop tops, and presumably fake tattoos now looks out sternly from portraits placed all over Thailand, … Members of Bavaria’s state parliament have asked whether the king is liable to pay tax locally. Meet Thailand’s poodle-obsessed, crop-top wearing ‘playboy prince’ who will now lead the country following his revered dad’s death King Vajiralongkorn was formally crowned in 2019 with a two-foot cone of diamond-encrusted gold enamel dating back to the start of the Chakri dynasty in 1782. One personality looms over these diffuse grievances: the king. 1843 magazine. The monarchy has long been treated with deference in Thailand. Gold comfort The Great Crown of Victory was used at the coronation in 2019. The king also proved to be a valuable propaganda asset: as a Western-friendly monarch, he stood in contrast to the communists who were sweeping to power in other parts of the region. In an unprecedented show of defiance, they are not only talking about the monarchy but openly criticising the way it operates. At a gala dinner for a jazz band from New Orleans, the dog attended wearing “formal evening attire complete with paw mitts”, according to an account relayed in a diplomatic cable later published by WikiLeaks. The dynamics of these demonstrations often reflected struggles among the political and business elite, as different sides mobilised their supporters. While his day job required him to dress conservatively, King Vajiralongkorn has been spotted wearing a variety of different crop tops when he … When he was crown prince he reportedly appointed Foo Foo as an air chief marshal. The crown and the crop top: the king of Thailand in six objects. Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2020. Protesters have many reasons to be frustrated – the army’s influence in politics, choking restrictions on freedom of speech and a wider sense that the gerontocratic Thai elite is closed to new ideas amid a lingering economic malaise. Video of the king was reportedly shot at a mall in Munich last year in July, and has been widely shared on the social network. Foo Foo also became a symbol for the playboy prince’s lifestyle. The young Thai monarch also met the then-president, Dwight Eisenhower, and gave him a recipe for Thai noodles. Then, in 1932, an uprising by military officers and bureaucrats forced the monarchy to accept some democratic changes, like a parliament. In Thailand King Vajiralongkorn is most often seen parading in his royal regalia, complete with a colourful array of medals. Thailand threatens to sue Facebook after videos emerge of king in crop top wandering in German shopping centre Come for the gold niello turtle presented to Lyndon Johnson’s baby grandson, and stay for the diamond-embellished vine-woven bags given to Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush when each was First Lady. The monarchy has long been treated with deference in Thailand. In 2018 the bodies of two Thai campaigners against the monarchy were found in the Mekong river in Laos, close to the border with Thailand. It was widely seen as a prescription for the Thai people. The Great Crown of Victory is an expression of the mystique with which the Thai royal family has surrounded itself. Previously, royal investments had been held by the secretive Crown Property Bureau. King Vajiralongkorn was formally crowned in 2019 with a two-foot cone of diamond-encrusted gold enamel dating back to the start of the Chakri dynasty in 1782. This new cohort of protesters identifies with the group of rebels fighting despotic oppression in “The Hunger Games”, a series of books and films for young adults. Until recently, people rarely mentioned the royal family in public except to proclaim their loyalty to it. The dynamics of these demonstrations often reflected struggles among the political and business elite, as different sides mobilised their supporters. The crown and the crop top: the king of Thailand in six objects. Some people already suspected that the bureau was effectively the monarch’s personal piggy bank, but officially at least, it was holding the wealth “in trust for the nation”. Previously, royal investments had been held by the secretive Crown Property Bureau. The 1960s and 1970s were not an easy time to be a king in South-East Asia and Bhumibol’s position was greatly strengthened by his close relationship with America. The king rarely gives interviews and the mainstream press is not allowed to probe his role (in a rare interview Vajiralongkorn gave as crown prince in the 1980s, he complained at being the subject of false rumours). In 2018 the American embassy in Bangkok held an eye-opening exhibition to celebrate the relationship, entitled Great and Good Friends, a reference to a salutation American presidents used in addressing the “kings of Siam”. Over the past few months thousands of young Thais have been staging demonstrations in the streets. Some people already suspected that the bureau was effectively the monarch’s personal piggy bank, but officially at least, it was holding the wealth “in trust for the nation”. Thai protesters have adopted the three-finger salute from the Hunger Games. Those who started the current protests in Bangkok are remarkable for their youth – some are still at school. With a total estimated wealth of more than $40bn, Vajiralongkorn is among the richest monarchs in the world. Andrew Griffin @_andrew_griffin. When Bhumibol ascended the throne in 1946 he was only 18, and at first depended heavily on generals, business and bureaucratic elites and foreign diplomats. All rights reserved. Western powers have long played a role in boosting the status of the Thai monarchy. 1. King Maha was spotted with Tidjai, while wearing a white crop top, covered in what appeared to be fake tattoos, and holding a small white dog as he boarded a plane in Germany last year. The wealth of the Thai monarchy has grown under Vajiralongkorn. Western powers have long played a role in boosting the status of the Thai monarchy. Video of the king was reportedly shot at a mall in Munich last year in July, and has been widely shared on the … For most of history, the Chakris were just another absolutist dynasty. One of Bhumibol’s lasting agrarian interventions was to set up a department of royal rainmaking. The coronation jewels are a potent emblem of a powerful monarchy to which some older Thais feel an almost religious devotion. The potential dangers of opposing the Thai royal family are real. The crown’s height is supposed to evoke the summit of Mount Meru, the heart of the universe in Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies. Unusually for a Thai king, however, Vajiralongkorn spends most of his time in Bavaria, where he has been snapped wearing skimpy crop tops, sometimes with elaborate temporary tattoos splayed across his back and arms. In dogs we trust A fuss over Foo Foo, the prince’s poodle. In Thailand King Vajiralongkorn is most often seen parading in his royal regalia, complete with a colourful array of medals. Oysters in France, KFC in Japan... do they know it’s Christmas? In Bangkok the authorities have arrested many protesters and charged some with sedition. https://www.economist.com/1843/2020/11/24/the-crown-and-the- The deliberate opacity of the monarchy doesn’t help. Republicans had no problem with rising deficits during the pre-pandemic Donald Trump years. When scraps of information about the royal family or images of the king do make it into the public domain, people pore over them, parsing the regal stage props: old fashioned Kremlinology for the media age. So far the royal response to recent demonstrations has been merely to ask the younger generation to “love the country and love the monarchy”. Follow updates here. When Bhumibol (pronounced Poom-ee-pon) died in 2016, he was succeeded by his son and heir – a very different public figure. Tondaeng had been a street dog and the message was clear for all: loyalty is not about pedigree, and everyone should know their place. Things are different this time. The Great Crown of Victory is an expression of the mystique with which the Thai royal family has surrounded itself. One of Bhumibol’s lasting agrarian interventions was to set up a department of royal rainmaking. Despite attempts by the generals in Bangkok to delete photos of the Thai king dressed in a crop top, they can still be found. The economy boomed under Bhumibol, thanks more to foreign investment and tourism than the agricultural initiatives he championed, like cloud-seeding. LONG LIVE THE KING! So far the royal response to recent demonstrations has been merely to ask the younger generation to “love the country and love the monarchy”. He apparently holed up in a hotel in Bavaria at the start of the coronavirus pandemic (at a time when all such establishments were ordered to close). He pursued archaic practices such as an annual ploughing ceremony, held to mark the start of the rice-growing season, and reinstated a custom that individuals prostrate themselves before the monarch (a predecessor had stopped this in the 19th century, regarding it as demeaning). Yet the crown also acts as a real-world symbol of an institution reliant on spectacle: at 7 kilograms, it is one of the heaviest coronation crowns still in use today (the St Edward Crown, placed on the head of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, came in at a paltry 2 kilograms). The Thai monarchy appointed Foo Foo was quite different to project to outsiders fading. Insulting the royal family a recipe for Thai noodles are remarkable for their youth some.: wide-ranging reform of the Thai monarchy has long been treated with deference in Thailand complete. The extravagant gifts Thai monarchs with a colourful array thailand king crop top medals Vajiralongkorn ook! 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