Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn has stripped Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi of her rank and the title of Royal Noble Consort for alleged “misbehavior and disloyalty against the monarch.”
According to the official announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Monday, Wongvajirapakdi was “ambitious” and tried to “elevate herself to the same state as the queen.”
“The royal consort’s behaviors were considered disrespectful,” it said.
Wongvajirapakdi, a major-general, a trained pilot, nurse, and bodyguard, was appointed as royal consort in July, just two months after the king married Queen Suthida, his fourth wife.
For years, the 34-year-old has often been at the side of King Vajiralongkorn. In her appointment, she became the first person to be awarded the rank in nearly a century.
Meanwhile, Queen Suthida Tidjai is the king’s long-term partner and has also been seen with him in public for many years. The 41-year-old queen was a former flight attendant and deputy head of his personal security detail.
Even after King Vajiralongkor married Suthida in May 2019, Wongvajirapakdi remained a regular guest at royal events, Reuters reports.
The full statement from Thailand’s Royal Palace alleged that Wongvajirapakdi has “shown resistance and pressure in every manner to stop the appointment of the Queen” ahead of the coronation in May.
“The king gave her a royal consort position, in hopes of relieving the pressure and a problem that could affect the monarchy,” said the statement.
The former royal consort was also accused of “resistance against the king and the queen.” She also allegedly abused her power by giving orders on the king’s behalf.
The king, who ascended the throne after the death of his father in 2016, reportedly learned that “she neither was grateful to the title bestowed upon her nor did she behave appropriately according to her status.”
Following the discovery, King Vajiralongkorn ordered her to be stripped of all royal titles, decorations, status in the royal guard and her military ranks.
Featured Image via The Royal Office
