Unlike the British royal family, not much is known about Thailand's monarchs, thanks to strict laws restricting reporting on the Thai royals. However, King Rama X isn't a complete mystery. From marrying his bodyguard to flying his own plane and throwing a four-day funeral for his pet poodle, here's everything we know about Thailand's eccentric ruler.
Despite his military training, there were questions of whether the prince was fit to rule. Rumors of gambling, womanizing, and associating with illegal businesses reportedly plagued the prince's reputation. In 1977, he married his first cousin, but then got involved with a young actress with whom he had five children before the two married in 1994. But just two years later, he publicly denounced her and disowned his four sons.
Just two months later, he made his rumored longtime girlfriend, a major general, his royal noble consort. The televised ceremony took place on the king's 67th birthday, with the queen at his side. When the Thai royal palace later published a photo of the king's consort wearing a crop top and piloting a plane, its official website crashed.
Although Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, the king wields much power. He commands an estimated 5,000 troops in the royal guard and has much influence over the wealthy Crown Property Bureau, which provides the palace with an annual income of about $300 million. Not to mention, as king, he can pretty much do whatever he wants. Including naming his pet poodle Foo Foo an air chief marshal. When Foo Foo died, the king gave him a four-day-long Buddhist funeral.
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