Thailand's playboykung is a newlywed – he will now be crowned

Preparations for the two days long the coronation in the weekend of the 66-year-old Maha Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok is in full swing.

Säkerhetspådraget will be a maximum, and thousands of people have been involved to participate in the traditional ceremony, including several hundred in the royal sedan chair which takes Maha Vajiralongkorn between the royal palace and temple of the emerald buddha, where he is appointed to the royal patron of buddhism.

in Thailand and Maha Vajiralongkorns father, king Bhumibol, was worshipped as something of a demi-god during their 70 years at the throne. His son Maha Vajiralongkorn, however, have a long way to go before he is afforded the same respect as his father.

Although it is highly forbidden to speak badly of the royal in Thailand has the world's toughest laws on lèse majesté cases. The one who insults the royal family, at risk of between three and fifteen years in prison.

But in anonymous calls can thais both criticize the harsh laws and individual royals.

" as long As we are not allowed to criticise the royal Thailand is no democracy. The strange thing is that it says in the constitution that we have freedom of speech. It is not possible that we may not criticise the king, as an activist in Bangkok told the DN in connection with the elections in Thailand a few months ago, we were careful to verify that his name was not mentioned.

Image 1 of 3 During the ceremony between the king Vajiralonkorn and Sudhita synthesis according to the royal tradition to fall on his knees before him. The king poured sacred water over the Suthida and they then wrote in a marriage contract. The two were married 1 may. May 4-6, crowned Maha Vajiralongkorn to become king. Photo: Thai Royal Household Bureau/AFP Slide 2 of 3 on Wednesday got married to Thailand's king Maha Vajiralongkorn with Suthida, previously part of his life guard. She now gets the title of queen. Photo: Thai tv Pool/AFP Slide 3 of 3 People gather before a portrait of Thailand's king Maha Vajiralongkorn who is crowned this weekend. Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Slideshow

he thought, however, that respect for the royal family would be reduced. Maha Vajiralongkorn has ever since 20-year-olds surrounded by the rumor that a playboy. When he a week in a traditional ceremony in the palace, married his Suthida, previously part of his life guard, he was her fourth marriage.

and with the king's mother, queen Sirikit, has admitted that her son is something of a Don Juan who would rather devote themselves to women than royal duties. To the tarnished reputation also belongs to sjubarnspappan Maha Vajiralongkorn has been associated with businessmen and politicians with ties to criminal circles. It meant that he for a while was seen as Sia-O, a nickname for mobsters of chinese-thai descent.

Maha Vajiralongkorn also named their poodle Fu-Fu to the officer in the air force and let it jump up on the table and drink out of the prominent guests, the teacup has contributed to the image of a less serious royalty. When the Fu-Fu dog held a grand buddhist ceremony.

But recently, Maha Vajiralongkorn has shown a different side – the one that maktspelare. Then he became king after his father Bhumibol died in 2016, he has seen to increase the royal influence, and the hard majestätslagarna is significant despite the fact that Thailand is a constitutional democracy.

that the royal family gets more power in the new constitution, which was adopted by the military junta two years ago. After the pressure he got into that the monarch should be able to spend a lot of time abroad. Maha Vajiralongkorn like to reside for long periods in his sumptuous residence outside of Munich.

Read more: So, Thailand's playboykung more and more power

He has also managed to usurp a greater influence over the royal soliditet, one of Thailand's most wealthy institutions with assets worth 300 billion. Through this, he is a major shareholder in Thailand's third largest bank, and owns the land for tens of billions of dollars.

This power he exercised through, among other things shut down Bangkok's 80 year old zoo and over 100 years old racecourse for horses. The ground is located near the royal palace and the plans that Maha Vajiralongkorn has for it is as yet unclear.

he saw that the third wife Sriasami and her family was sentenced for insulting the royal family. Also other that has been previously Vajiralongkorns familiar have been convicted and some have died under mysterious circumstances.

the Coronation is a ceremony going on from Saturday to Monday. Several hundred thousand are expected to follow the spectacle along Bangkok's streets, and even more sit glued to the tv set.