Ailing princess, odd prince or prodigal son? Heir not so apparent in Thailand

News over the weekend from the Royal Palace that the Thai king’s eldest daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, is showing signs of recovery after battling a serious blood infection last month would have cheered the faithful. However, public speculation is growing regarding who will inherit the throne.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who has married four times, has seven children, but only three of them – Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana – hold royal titles. 

With Princess Bajrakitiyabha still in critical condition and Princess Sirivannavari showing little interest in the throne, the mantle could potentially fall on young Prince Dipangkorn, who is said to be slightly autistic, according to some royal watchers.

Despite the uncertainty, the king has yet to name his heir. Adding to the intrigue is the return of former prince Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse to Thailand and his ordination as a Buddhist monk in 2023, sparking rumors about a possible royal comeback, as reported by East Week, the sister publication of The Standard.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha has been unconscious in the hospital since falling ill during a military dog training session in December 2022. The eldest daughter of the king and his first wife and cousin, Somsawali Kitiyakara, has been on antibiotics and vasopressors, along with life support equipment to stabilize her blood pressure and prevent infection.

With a favorable public image and noble lineage, she has long been seen as Thailand’s prospective queen, as the country’s constitution allows women to inherit the throne. 

A legal expert, she earned a doctor of juridical science degree from Cornell University in May 2005, as well as a master’s degree from Cornell Law School and a law degree from Thammasat University. Additionally, she holds a degree in international relations from Sukhothai Thammathirat University.

The princess has held various positions with the United Nations and has campaigned for improved treatment of women in prisons. Although she remains unmarried, rumors about her love life persist. 

In 1997, the then 20-year-old princess met Taiwanese actor and singer Jimmy Lin Chih-ying during the 70th birthday celebrations of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, where he was performing. Lin later stated in a 2018 interview that he was not allowed to look directly at the princess when presenting a record to her, indirectly denying any romantic involvement.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Prince Dipangkorn, who is rumored to be autistic, was recently seen with a tall, imposing figure while visiting his eldest sister, prompting speculation that he may be navigating palace conflicts by deliberately acting naïve. He has yet to be named as the heir, possibly due to the influence of the Thai military and senior royal officials, especially in light of controversies surrounding his mother, Srirasmi Suwadee, the king’s third wife. A nude video of Suwadee dancing in front of the king’s dog was leaked in 2009, and it was alleged that her parents had misused their royal connections for fraudulent activities.

Princess Sirivannavari, the daughter of the king and his second wife, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, has occasionally participated in royal events but has long expressed that she has little interest in the throne, focusing instead on her personal career in fashion and equestrianism.

Vivacharawongse’s four sons were exiled to the United States along with their mother after she was accused of adultery in 1996. However, the former prince Vacharaesorn has remained active in the public eye, traveling globally and participating in public affairs as an “exiled prince.” He returned to Thailand in August 2023 and divorced his foreign wife, seemingly to comply with Thai law, which states that a royal spouse cannot be a foreigner. 

In May this year, Vacharaesorn became a monk, a move perceived as an effort to gain public support, but he was arrested and deported after a month. His younger brother, Chakriwat, was also deported a day later. The other two sons  – Juthavachara and Vatchrawee – have returned to Thailand several times in recent years, often publicly expressing their desire to mend relations with the king, but their attempts have been unsuccessful.