Thailand's Royalty made an unprecedented move into politics on Friday
Feb 08,2019 when the sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn was declared as a prime
ministerial candidate for March 24 elections, registration papers
showed.
Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932 but the royal family has wielded great influence and commanded the devotion of millions.
The nomination of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67, the elder sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, promised to upend Thailand`s already turbulent politics because it breaks the long-standing tradition of Thai royalty staying out of politics.
Princess Ubolratana will run as a candidate for a party loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. One of her leading opponents will be Prayuth Chan-ocha, the leader of Thailand`s military junta, who also announced his candidacy on Friday Feb 08,2019
Princess Ubolratana, the oldest daughter of King Bhumibol, was born in Lausanne in 1951. She studied mathematics and bio-chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned a master degree in public health from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Princess Ubolratana relinquished her royal titles in 1972 when she married an American, her fellow MIT student Peter Jensen. She lived in the United States for more than 26 years before they divorced in 1998.
She returned permanently to Thailand in 2001, performing royal duties but never regaining her full royal titles. She is referred to as "Tunkramom Ying", which means "Daughter to the Queen Regent", and is treated by officials as a member of the royal family.
Princess Ubolratana is known for her "To be Number One" philanthropy campaign, which aims to help young people stay away from drugs, as well as starring in several soap operas and movies.
An avid social media user, she recently posted videos eating street food and another complaining about pollution in Bangkok.
Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932 but the royal family has wielded great influence and commanded the devotion of millions.
The nomination of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67, the elder sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, promised to upend Thailand`s already turbulent politics because it breaks the long-standing tradition of Thai royalty staying out of politics.
Princess Ubolratana will run as a candidate for a party loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. One of her leading opponents will be Prayuth Chan-ocha, the leader of Thailand`s military junta, who also announced his candidacy on Friday Feb 08,2019
Princess Ubolratana, the oldest daughter of King Bhumibol, was born in Lausanne in 1951. She studied mathematics and bio-chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned a master degree in public health from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Princess Ubolratana relinquished her royal titles in 1972 when she married an American, her fellow MIT student Peter Jensen. She lived in the United States for more than 26 years before they divorced in 1998.
She returned permanently to Thailand in 2001, performing royal duties but never regaining her full royal titles. She is referred to as "Tunkramom Ying", which means "Daughter to the Queen Regent", and is treated by officials as a member of the royal family.
Princess Ubolratana is known for her "To be Number One" philanthropy campaign, which aims to help young people stay away from drugs, as well as starring in several soap operas and movies.
An avid social media user, she recently posted videos eating street food and another complaining about pollution in Bangkok.
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