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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National

Thai King back with official mistress after she was purged for 'disobedience'

All appears to be forgiven for the Thai King's ousted mistress Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, as the pair have officially reconciled.

Wongvajirapakdi, 35, was made royal consort by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 68, in a ceremony last year, where she was pictured sitting at his feet.

She was given the title just three months after the King's wedding to Queen Suthida - his fourth wife. In appointing Wongvajirapakdi he became the first monarch to have an official consort since 1932.

Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi (AFP/Getty Images)

However, things took another turn in October 2019 when Wongvajirapakdi was cast out of the King's circle after accusations of 'disobedience' and alleged attempts to elevate herself to the level of the Queen.

"Royal Noble Consort Sineenat is ungrateful and behaves in ways unbecoming of her title. She is also not content with the title bestowed upon her, doing everything to rise to the level of the queen," an official statement read.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn putting a sash on Queen Suthida (AFP/Getty Images)

"She lacks the understanding of the good traditions of the royal court. She displays disobedience against the king and the queen."

Thailand's Queen Suthida (Getty Images)

However, this week Royal Gazette published an update featuring an apparent u-turn on the decision: “As Miss Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi has never been a tarnished person, His Majesty has given her the title of the royal consort, military ranks and royal decorations continuously.

Sineenat Wonvajirapakdi (EPA)

"It will be regarded that she was never stripped of the royal consort title, military ranks and royal decorations previously" the publication wrote.

Sinneenat Wongvajirapakdi (EPA)

Formerly Niramon Ounprom, Wongvajirapakdi is a former nurse and army officer and was given a new noble name by the King when she was made his official mistress.

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