The Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn (68) enjoys life to the full. He has fun with a harem of over 20 “soldiers” in his love nest near Munich (D), jets through Europe as he pleases and occasionally goes on bike trips in the Lucerne region.
In 2018 Blick exclusively reported that Rama X., as he is known, had flown with his Boeing 737 of the Royal Thai Air Force from Munich to the Emmen LU military airfield. From there he drove in a convoy to Engelberg OW to the Hotel Waldegg, which was cordoned off by Thai security forces.
Nobody liked to talk about what the king was up to there. The Thai embassy in Bern said to Blick at the time: “The visit is private and highly confidential.” Waldegg director Manolito Birrer (39) was ignorant: “Yes, a Thai delegation has arrived, but that the king is there would be new to me.”
Golden cage for loved ones
Now it seems clear why the Thai king came to us so often. According to “Secret Siam”, the news site of a journalist critical of the government, Vajiralongkorn hid his lover and future wife in Engelberg for four years.
When Vajiralongkorn’s marriage to Princess Srirasmi Suwadee (49) was divorced in 2014, the former flight attendant Suthida (42) was the new wife at the side of the then Crown Prince. But she didn’t just want to become part of the harem in Munich. Vajiralongkorn therefore decided to accommodate Suthida in the Hotel Waldegg and visit her regularly.
Four years ago, a Thai convoy with 60 servants, doctors, chauffeurs, cooks, nannies, secretaries, dog sitters, musicians and security guards arrived.
Reserved top floors
The entire seventh floor of the hotel was reserved for Suthida and the royal visits. The high-ranking employees stayed on the sixth floor. On the ground floor, the Thais installed a special kitchen in which they could prepare their own meals.
Suthida was a fairly inconspicuous guest. “Secret Siam” quotes an anonymous source: “She is very down to earth, and you can tell that she loves to be with normal people and to talk to them.” That worked as long as she was alone. “As soon as the king arrives, it seems to be very uncomfortable.”
In 2019 she became queen
When Suthida arrived in Engelberg, she was not a member of the Thai royal family. Her relationship with King Vajiralongkorn had been kept secret from the Thai people for years and was never recognized by the palace. On May 1, 2019, the king officially married his mistress. She became Queen of Thailand – but still often lived in the hotel.
Again and again the king visited his lover. Together they went on a bike tour or went shopping in the Lucerne region. He preferred to give her expensive jewelry.
Everyone has to shut up
“Secret Siam” refers to anonymous sources close to the royal family. Research in this area is difficult. Palace employees are severely punished for speaking to journalists. According to “Secret Siam”, the security forces in Switzerland have also set up a database with photos and license plates of journalists.
Even hotel workers were told to get rid of the media at all costs – and had to sign nondisclosure agreements.
This is how people still remain silent at the hotel today. Is Suthida still a guest? Does Rama X still go in and out? Telephone and email inquiries from Blick to director Manolito Birrer went unanswered.