Thailand King's disowned son makes surprising return as Buddhist monk, sparking speculation about royal comeback

Time of India

26-05-2025

Source: Instagram
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, one of the disowned sons of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), has been ordained as a Buddhist monk in Bangkok, marking a significant and symbolic return to public life.
His ordination took place on Vesak Day — a major Buddhist holiday celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. The event was widely shared on his official Instagram, drawing public attention and sparking speculation about his potential reintegration into royal circles. Though once stripped of royal status, Vacharaesorn's visible spiritual gesture has led many to question whether this could signal a path back to royal favour.
Who is
Thailand King's disowned son
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse
Vacharaesorn, whose Thai nickname is "Than Oun," is the second son of King Rama X and former mistress Sujarinee Vivacharawongse (formerly actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth). Vacharaesorn was born in 1981 and was banished together with his mother and siblings in 1996 after a public rift with the royal family.
Since then, he has resided as a private citizen of the United States, practicing law and living a relatively low-key existence.
In recent years, though — especially after his unexpected return to Thailand in 2023 — he has become increasingly visible on the public and cultural scene, frequently mingling with the Thai community in Bangkok and elsewhere.
His ordination, thus, is not merely a private religious landmark. It is generally seen as a potential move towards re-establishing him in royal ranks.
Thai tradition and spiritual significance
In Thai tradition, male members of the royal family traditionally retreat to monastic life, especially prior to taking on public or political roles.
This is based on Buddhist principles of humility, self-control, and religious merit — virtues demanded of future leaders.
Vacharaesorn's ordination on Vesak Day, a day to mark the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, has such strong cultural and spiritual significance. That his ordination has taken place in public — disseminated through social media — has not escaped attention. Analysts consider it could be a calculated indication he is being surreptitiously brought back into royal business.
As per Spanish publication Vanitatis, the return to religious life can be an effort to restore King Rama X's favor and potentially place him in the middle of Thailand's disputed royal succession.
King Rama X's family and reign
King Maha Vajiralongkorn, or Rama X, took the throne in 2016 after his father, the highly respected King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died. Rama X, now 72 years of age, has had a reign characterized by drama and personal intrigue, frequently doing royal work out of Germany, where he spends most of the year.
He has been married four times, kept a queen and a royal consort, and has children with more than one partner — all of which are currently causing the line of succession to be unclear.
Rama X's children cross several relationships:
Princess Soamsawali (his cousin): One daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha
Sujarinee Vivacharawongse: Four sons, including Vacharaesorn, and one daughter, Princess Sirivannavari. The sons were disowned in 1996.
Srirasmi Suwadee: One son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
Queen Suthida: No children
He also has a royal consort, Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, whose royal title was briefly stripped and then restored.
Why is
Thailand's royal succession
in question
The succession crisis is both legal and psychological. Thai law favours male succession, but the king's only officially sanctioned son, Prince Dipangkorn, is said to be afflicted with a developmental disorder, which poses questions about his ability to effectively govern.
In the meantime, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, a possible heir, has been in coma since 2022, after a sudden medical emergency. Her condition is still uncertain, with no significant public report on her status.
While Princess Sirivannavari performs royal functions and has official rank, she is not in the line of succession under existing law — unless female succession becomes allowed under the rules, which the monarch has not sought.
That puts the future of the throne in limbo, with Vacharaesorn's return and ordination into the clergy now potentially a strategic move.
Vacharaesorn's gradual return to the royal family
Even formally deposed of his royal rank some twenty-nine years ago, Vacharaesorn's recent behaviour and growing prominence imply an unofficial rehabilitation process under way.
His public show of deference to his father, involvement in national and cultural affairs, and now ordination, all indicate a slow process of reintegration.
Thai commentators point out that within royal tradition, returning from exile by deeds of religious devotion has precedents in the past. If Prince Dipangkorn, in the end, is found to be unsuitable to reign, and no female succession is provided for through constitutional amendment, Vacharaesorn — although illegitimate — might find himself as a reasonable candidate for succession, particularly if backed by royal mandate.
Vacharaesorn's role amid monarchy's challenges
The symbolism and timing of Vacharaesorn's return is also important. At a time when the Thai monarchy is beset by internal instability and international criticism, the return of a discarded royal son to a visible and culturally symbolic role implies there is some deeper strategic rationale at play. Whether formally reinstated or not, Vacharaesorn's ordination serves as a reminder that the Thai royal succession is still an open issue — one determined not just by blood, but by public perception, cultural orthodoxy, and political determination.
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