- Title: Second son of Thailand's king makes surprise return after 27 years
- Date: 8th August 2023
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (AUGUST 8, 2023) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SON OF KING VAJIRALONGKORN, VACHARAESORN VIVACHARAWONGSE, STEPPING INTO FOUNDATION FOR SLUM CHILDCARE VACHARAESORN SPEAKING TO FOUNDATION OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF VACHARAESORN SPEAKING WITH CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) SON OF KING VAJIRALONGKORN, VACHARAESORN VIVACHARAWONGSE, SAYING: “I am delighted to return to Thailand, I have been warmly welcomed. I have been away for a long time, 27 years. It is like a dream come true to be back here. Before the plane landed I looked outside the window I feel very emotional and grateful to the country.†CHILDREN LOOKING ON VACHARAESORN CRAWLING NEXT TO CHILDREN VACHARAESORN LOOKING ON VACHARAESORN WITH CHILDREN TEACHER AND CHILDREN SINGING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) SON OF KING VAJIRALONGKORN, VACHARAESORN VIVACHARAWONGSE, SAYING: “I have never forgotten that I am Thai. I have never forgotten about the importance of Thai culture.†VACHARAESORN SPEAKING WITH CHILDREN CHILDREN AT TABLE VACHARAESORN SPEAKING AND GETTING UP (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) SON OF KING VAJIRALONGKORN, VACHARAESORN VIVACHARAWONGSE, SAYING: “When I was overseas, I spent my time promoting Thai culture so foreignerscan understand the valuable heritage. Returning to Thailand this time, I would like to learn more about culture and continue to promote it overseas. I am very happy to be back here.†VACHARAESORN WALKING INTO MEETING ROOM AND SITTING VACHARAESORN LISTENING VACHARAESORN SPEAKING WITH FOUNDATION OFFICIAL VACHARAESORN AND OFFICIALS SPEAKING VACHARAESORN WATCHING SCREEN VARIOUS OF VACHARAESORN WATCHING SCREEN WITH THAI KING VAJIRALONGKORN PORTRAIT ON WALL VACHARAESORN MEETING WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS VACHARAESORN SPEAKING WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND HUGGING RESIDENT (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 66-YEAR-OLD LOCAL RESIDENT, ANGSANA SEEPRASIT, SAYING: "I'm very moved. He has been away for a long time. To me, he is still a member of the royal family." LOCAL RESIDENTS STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 52-YEAR-OLD LOCAL RESIDENT, NATCHITA TONGPRADUB, SAYING: "I missed him, I want him to come back to his home country to help his father's work." VARIOUS OF VACHARAESORN POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH WITH CHILDREN
- Embargoed: 22nd August 2023 09:03
- Keywords: King Thai Thailand Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse exiled monarchy son
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA001301608082023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The second-eldest son of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn visited a child-care centre for underprivileged families on Tuesday (August 8) during a surprise visit to the kingdom, the first time he has been back in his homeland in 27 years.
The trip by Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, comes at a fraught time for the Thai royal family, with the monarch's eldest daughter in a coma since December.
Vacharaesorn, who works at a law firm in New York, visited the Foundation for Slum Child Care, which is supported by the royal family, and greeted well-wishers. Clad in jeans and a casual black shirt, he posed for photographs in front of portraits of his father and his grandfather, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016 after a 70-year reign.
The Royal Palace has not commented on the visit. The Palace Household Bureau did not respond to requests for comment.
Vacharaesorn is the second of four sons of King Vajiralongkorn's second wife, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, a former actress whom the then-crown prince divorced in 1996. He has no formal royal title though he technically retains a status bestowed when he was a child as a grandson of a monarch. He, his mother, three brothers and one sister were estranged after the 1996 divorce, in which his mother was publicly accused of adultery, and moved abroad.
The thrice-divorced King Vajiralongkorn has seven children. He is married to Queen Suthida, his former chief bodyguard whom he wed days before his coronation in 2019. The 71-year-old monarch has not named an official heir.
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