“I’m very happy to be back… I’ve been away for a long time, 27 years,” Mr. Vacharaesorn told reporters on August 8 at an event in Bangkok. “Being back is like a dream come true.”
Mr. Vacharaesorn returned to Thailand on the evening of August 6 according to Nikkei Asia. He confirmed that he was returning home by posting a photo of him sitting in a tuk tuk – the iconic three-wheeled vehicle of Thailand – on Facebook.
Also during the trip, Mr. Vacharaesorn visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha – a place sacred to royalty – and the sacred pillar temple in Bangkok. He then had lunch at a sidewalk noodle shop.
Many Thai people were surprised by Mr. Vacharaesorn’s return. The photo of him sitting in a tuk tuk received tens of thousands of “likes” on Facebook.
Mr. Vacharaesorn was born in 1981 in Bangkok as the third child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. His mother, actress Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, became the second wife of King Maha in 1994. She gave birth to a total of 4 sons and 1 daughter for the king.
After their divorce in 1996, she Sujarinee and her four sons all lost their royal titles and moved to America. During this period, Ms. Sujarinee was accused of being unfaithful. Her youngest daughter was raised by the king in Thailand.
The Thai royal family has not commented on Mr. Vacharaesorn’s visit.
His repatriation trip Vacharaesorn takes place in the context of the king’s eldest daughter, 44-year-old Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who has been in a coma since December 2019 after fainting due to heart disease.
The 71-year-old King of Thailand also has a son. 18 year old Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti with his third wife Srirasmi Suwadee. He divorced Ms. Srirasmi in 2014 and married Queen Suthida in 2019.
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