Biography: King Bhumibol Adulyadej
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Biography-King-Bhumibol-Adulyadej
Born Dec. 5, 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. Died Oct. 13, 2016, in Bangkok, Thailand
King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the third and youngest child of Prince Mahidol of Songkla, and was born in the U.S. while his father was studying medicine at Harvard University. Prince Bhumibol spent his early years in Thailand, where his father died in 1929, before moving with his family to Lausanne, Switzerland. He was fluent in English, French, and German, and preferred to converse with foreigners in French.
Prince Bhumibol acceded to the throne in 1946 when only 18 following the death by gunshot of his brother, King Ananda Mahidol. His brother's unexplained death in the palace remains one of the greatest mysteries of modern Thai history. After his accession, King Bhumibol continued his studies at Lausanne University until they were terminated by a serious car crash that cost him his right eye. His coronation was held four years later in 1950, soon after the long-delayed cremation of his brother.
King Bhumibol travelled upcountry extensively and maintained provincial palaces. He initiated thousands of development projects in rural area, many involving alternative crops and water management. In 1973 and 1992, he intervened to end bloodshed during political unrest, and installed civilian governments.
In increasingly frail health since the mid 1990s, King Bhumibol spent most of his final years at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. He died on Oct. 13, 2016, at the age of 88.
He was married to Queen Sirikit, a cousin, from 1950, and the couple had a son and three daughters.
Biography: King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/TOKYO-STOP-Maha-Vajiralongkorn-Bodindradebayavarangkun
Born July 28, 1952, Bangkok, Thailand
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, the second child and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, was born in Bangkok on July 28, 1952
. After attending schools in the U.K. and Australia, including latterly the Royal Military Academy, Duntroon, he joined the Royal Thai Army in 1975, and holds top ranks in all three branches of the armed forces.
He was invested as crown prince and heir apparent by his father in 1972. In a 1980 interview with the BBC, he was asked how it felt to be a prince. "I have been born, from the first second of my life, as a prince," he said. "It is difficult to say what it's like to be a fish when you are a fish. Or what it's like to be a bird when you're a bird."
In recent years, he has spent much time in Germany where his 12-year-old son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, attends school. The king appears in Thailand on important state occasions and major national holidays. He has been married three times and has five sons and two daughters with his former wives.
King Vajiralongkorn is passionate about aviation and pets. He is qualified to fly both civil aircraft and fighter jets, which has earned him the nickname Chao Fah Nak Bin (Pilot Prince). Foo Foo, a beloved pet poodle who died last year, was promoted to senior ranks in the armed forces.
Thai king stuns public with his fourth wedding before coronation
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Thai-king-stuns-public-with-his-fourth-wedding-before-coronation
BANGKOK -- Just days before his coronation, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn married the deputy chief of his personal guard Wednesday in a wedding that has shocked the public.
The New queen Suthida is monarch's bodyguard and longtime partner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajiralongkorn
Five things to know a week after the Thai election
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Thai-election/Five-things-to-know-a-week-after-the-Thai-election
Political deadlock foreseen as all sides await official results
KATSUHIKO HARA, Nikkei Asian Review assistant politics & economy news editor
MARCH 31, 2019 14:43 JST
BANGKOK -- A week has passed since voters in Thailand finally had their say, casting ballots in the kingdom's first general election in eight years. It was a closely watched event around the globe: Would Thailand return to a democratic path, or remain under the rule of a military junta and its allies?
Sujarinee Vivacharawongse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sujarinee_Vivacharawongse
Sujarinee Vivacharawongse (Thai: สุจาริณี วิวัชรวงศ์; RTGS: Sucharini Wiwatcharawong; May 26, 1962), née Yuvadhida Polpraserth (Thai: ยุวธิดา ผลประเสริฐ; RTGS: Yuwathida Phonprasoet), stage-named Yuvadhida Suratsawadee (Thai: ยุวธิดา สุรัสวดี; RTGS: Yuwathida Suratsawadi) or nicknamed Benz (Thai: เบ๊นซ์), is a Thai actress and the second consort of Vajiralongkorn, the then Crown Prince of Thailand, from 1994 to 1996. She now lives in the United States
Sujarinee was born on 26 May 1962, the daughter of Thanit Polpraserth and Yaovalak Komarakul na Nagara. Her father was a musician and composer in the Sunthraphon band
At fifteen, she was introduced to Thai filmography when actress Sarinthip Siriwan helped her to find a job in the drama Kot haeng kam and Manut pralat. In 1977 she co-starred in the films Sip ha yok yok sip hok mai yon and Lueat nai din. In 1978 and 1979 she was a leading actress in the film Saen saep, Ai thuek and Hua chai thi chom din.
In August 1979, she announced her retirement from the entertainment industry.
When Vajiralongkorn was introduced to Yuvadhida Polpraserth, she was an aspiring actress. She became his steady companion and gave birth to four sons and a daughter:
Prince Juthavachara Mahidol (จุฑาวัชร มหิดล Chuthawat Mahidon, born 29 August 1979), married Riya Gough on 1 September 2013.
Prince Vacharaesorn Mahidol (วัชรเรศร มหิดล Watchareson Mahidon, born 27 May 1981)
Prince Chakriwat Mahidol (จักรีวัชร มหิดล Chakkriwat Mahidon, born 26 February 1983)
Prince Vatcharawee Mahidol (วัชรวีร์ มหิดล Watcharawi Mahidon, born 14 June 1985)
Princess Busyanambejra Mahidol (บุษย์น้ำเพชร มหิดล Butnamphet Mahidon, born 8 January 1987)
They were married at a palace ceremony in February 1994, where they were blessed by the King and the Princess Mother, but not by the Queen. After the marriage, she was allowed to change her name to Mom Sujarinee Mahidol na Ayudhya (หม่อมสุจาริณี มหิดล ณ อยุธยา), signifying she was a commoner married to a royal. She was also commissioned as a major in the Royal Thai Army and took part in royal ceremonies with Vajiralongkorn. When she fled to Britain in 1996 with their children, Vajiralongkorn had posters placed around his palace accusing her of committing adultery with Anand Rotsamkhan (อนันต์ รอดสำคัญ), a 60-year-old air marshal.
Sujarinee, together with her children, moved to England in 1996. While she and her sons are reportedly banished from Thailand, her only daughter, Princess Busyanambejra (later changed to HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana) returned to Thailand to live with Vajiralongkorn. Sujarinee and her sons have since moved to the United States
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/prince-and-family.jpg
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2014/11/29/family-affairs-i/
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/prince-and-family.jpg