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Thailand crown prince's wife resigns from royal role | Thailand crown prince's wife resigns from royal role |
(35 minutes later) | |
The wife of Thailand's Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, Srirasmi, has resigned her royal position, the palace has announced. | The wife of Thailand's Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, Srirasmi, has resigned her royal position, the palace has announced. |
A statement said King Bhumibol Adulyadej had accepted Princess Srirasmi's written request. | A statement said King Bhumibol Adulyadej had accepted Princess Srirasmi's written request. |
Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn had asked the government to strip his wife's family of their royally bestowed name. | Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn had asked the government to strip his wife's family of their royally bestowed name. |
Seven of her relatives had been arrested in a purge of officials allegedly involved in corruption. | Seven of her relatives had been arrested in a purge of officials allegedly involved in corruption. |
The palace statement, which appeared in the Royal Gazette, read: "Princess Srirasmi, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn... has written to respectfully resign from her status in the royal family and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King." | The palace statement, which appeared in the Royal Gazette, read: "Princess Srirasmi, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn... has written to respectfully resign from her status in the royal family and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King." |
Srirasmi is the crown prince's third wife, and the pair married in 2001. They have a son. | Srirasmi is the crown prince's third wife, and the pair married in 2001. They have a son. |
He was already known to be estranged from the princess, although they continued to attend official functions together. | He was already known to be estranged from the princess, although they continued to attend official functions together. |
There has been no official announcement of a divorce, but their separation is being seen as inevitable. | There has been no official announcement of a divorce, but their separation is being seen as inevitable. |
The princess's uncle, a police general, was arrested over accusations of amassing vast wealth through smuggling and gambling rackets. | The princess's uncle, a police general, was arrested over accusations of amassing vast wealth through smuggling and gambling rackets. |
Four of her siblings and two other relatives have also been held. | Four of her siblings and two other relatives have also been held. |
Srirasmi would have been expected to become queen when the crown prince succeeded his father. | Srirasmi would have been expected to become queen when the crown prince succeeded his father. |
This is not the first time a wife of the crown prince has been brought down in this very public way; his second wife was also discredited, then forced into exile 18 years ago. | |
The world's longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol, a widely revered and unifying figure, has been on the throne in Thailand since 1946. | The world's longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol, a widely revered and unifying figure, has been on the throne in Thailand since 1946. |
The pivotal position of the monarchy in Thailand's political order makes the succession an extremely sensitive issue. | The pivotal position of the monarchy in Thailand's political order makes the succession an extremely sensitive issue. |
Many aspects still cannot be reported from inside the country. | Many aspects still cannot be reported from inside the country. |
The strict lese majeste law criminalises any critical comment about the monarchy. | The strict lese majeste law criminalises any critical comment about the monarchy. |