It’s been a dark few days over in Thailand, the 70-year reign of the popular King Bhumibol Adulyadej coming to an end following his death on Thursday.

As the country mourns they are also looking forward to the appointment of a new king later this month, but there’s just one snag.

The former king had just one son, and it turns out Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn isn’t very popular with a large majority of the country.

He is famous for his “eclectic dress sense, scandal-plagued past and failed marriages”, says the Independent, and here’s the first of those in action.

That picture above was snapped at Munich Airport in July of this year.

Given that people are free to dress as they please it doesn’t warrant that much worry, until it’s coupled with some other examples of rather odd behaviour:

It is Prince Maha’s “playboy” personal life that has attracted most attention. He is famous for his dedication to his pet poodle, Foo Foo, which was awarded the rank of Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force and given its own Wikipedia page.

It has frequently appeared at official functions; including accompanying the Crown Prince to a 2007 reception hosted in his honour by the US Ambassador Ralph Boyce.

Mr Boyce allegedly recounted the event in a leaked cable, writing: “Foo Foo was present at the event, dressed in formal evening attire complete with paw mitts, and at one point during the band’s second number, he jumped up on to the head table and began lapping from the guests’ water glasses, including my own.

“The Air Chief Marshal’s antics drew the full attention of the 600-plus audience members, and remains the talk of the town to this day.”

When the dog died last year, it was given a four-day funeral complete with Buddhist rites before being cremated in an extravagant ceremony.

Foo Foo and its owner hit the headlines in 2014 when opponents of the Crown Prince leaked a video showing his third wife, Princess Srirasm, lying on the floor feeding the dog cake while wearing nothing but a G-string.

OK, so he’s a little over the top about his dog, too. I think we all know someone like that, so let’s step it up a notch:

[Reports] highlighted Prince Maha’s alleged record of meddling in politics and “embarrassing financial transactions”. The cable records officials saying the Crown Prince “could not stop either, nor would he be able, at age 57, to rectify his behaviour”…

Prince Maha ended his relationship with his third wife, Princess Srirasm, in December. Her parents were later thrown in prison for two-and-a-half years for “royal defamation”.

Ah yes, there comes that dictatorial style of ruling that everyone fears. Crop tops are just fine, but you really have to draw the line somewhere.

Thanks, Alex

[source:independent]