Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, a consort of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has once again made headlines due to an alleged scandal involving the leak of private photographs. According to reports, approximately 1,400 personal photos, many of them sensitive, were anonymously sent to anti-monarchy activists outside of Thailand. The incident, reported on December 22, has drawn attention to the ongoing controversies surrounding the Thai monarchy.
It is alleged that the photos were leaked earlier this year and were sent to prominent critics of the monarchy living abroad, as stated by The Daily Beast. Journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall confirmed that he had received a letter in August, containing an SD card with the photos. The letter, which appeared suspicious, had a return address reportedly linked to German intelligence, though Marshall suspects it was fabricated. While he did not release any of the photos, they were shared by another well-known critic of the Thai monarchy, Pavin Chachavalpongpun.
This incident follows Sineenat’s release from detention earlier in the year, where she had spent ten months after a reported conflict with Queen Suthida. Many believe the leak is tied to the ongoing tensions between Sineenat and other members of the royal family. The return of Sineenat to the palace reportedly faced opposition from Queen Suthida and Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
In 2019, King Maha Vajiralongkorn officially named Sineenat as his royal consort. She has a diverse background, including training as a pilot and serving in the royal bodyguard unit, where she attained the rank of Major General in the King’s Guard.
