Thai King ‘Isolates’ Himself with Harem of 20 Women

In the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has "isolated" himself with his entourage in an Alpine luxury hotel, welcoming the wrath of his people to condemn their king online and social media platforms.

The king, also known as Rama X, has reportedly booked the entire Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl with his party, which is also said to include a “harem” of 20 women. The four-star hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany has received “special permission” from the district council to accommodate them because “the guests are a single, homogenous group of people with no fluctuation”, reports said. It also added that 119 members of the entourage were sent back to Thailand on suspicion that they may have COVID-19.

And the acts of Rama X have not gone well with his country's people. Hundreds of Thais have denounced him online, violating the lèse-majesté laws of Thailand, in which anyone who mocks or question the monarchy may face up to 15 years in jail.

A hashtag translating to ‘Why do we need a king’ was trending on Twitter after news broke out that the 67-year-old king was holidaying in Germany.

After the death of his father Bhumibol Adulyadej, who served for over 70 years and was much appreciated by the people, Vajiralongkorn took over the throne in 2016. The new King has not made a public presence in his nation since February, according to sources.

Over 1,300 in Thailand are said to have tested positive for the coronavirus with 143 new cases as of Sunday.

Source: News Week