EXCLUSIVE—Here is the inside story of the downfall of Noble Consort Sineenat “Koi” Wongvajirapakdi, according to several informed sources with links to the palace. 1/11
Koi had a furious argument recently over whether she or Queen Suthida “Nui” Tidjai should sit alongside King Vajiralongkorn in the Royal Barge Procession ceremony. Palace officials are saying privately that this was the reason the ceremony was postponed to December. 2/11
Everybody knows it’s not true that the river’s current made it impossible to hold the procession this week. The dress rehearsal on Monday went fine. So it’s true that the reason it was postponed is because of divisions in the palace. 3/11
But according to several informed sources, this was a trap to destroy Koi, by factions in the palace who disapprove of Vajiralongkorn’s decision to have an official consort, and who don’t like Koi. She is notoriously unpopular among palace staff. Nui is much more popular. 4/11
According to palace sources, Koi was told she had a chance of sitting beside the king in the barge ceremony, and was very excited, ordering a special dress for the occasion. But there was never any real prospect she could sit alongside the king. 5/11
Of course, Nui will be beside him. It was just a trap to destroy Koi by palace factions who don’t like her. 6/11
According to multiple sources, she has been sentenced to two years imprisonment in Vajiralongkorn’s private prison at Thaweewattana Palace. There is no legal justification for this punishment. 7/11
The charges against her are ridiculous. By making her an official consort when he already had a wife, Vajiralongkorn was creating inevitable conflict between Nui and Koi. 8/11
The king is trying to take Thailand back in time to an era when the monarch can do whatever he wants, and he can crush anyone without caring about the law. 9/11
Koi must have known Vajiralongkorn is mad and dangerous, but she thought she could control him. All the women who have been close to him have made the same mistake, and all have had their lives destroyed.
Nui will probably be next. 10/11
Nui will probably be next. 10/11
Everybody in Thailand knows the king is a disaster, but nobody dares say anything publicly. So everything will just keep getting worse. 11/11
