Thai princess goes to HK for wedding of Thaksin’s daughter.
HONG KONG: The princess whose shock candidacy in Thailand’s general election sent jitters through the country attended a glitzy wedding for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter in Hong Kong.
Princess Ubolratana’s short-lived political venture was stopped by her brother King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who said in a royal command that it was highly inappropriate.
Thais go to the polls today in the first election in eight years, and the princess’s unexpected candidacy – to front a now-dissolved Shinawatralinked party – was the campaign’s biggest twist so far.
At the wedding on Friday, she was welcomed on the red carpet by Thaksin, his eldest daughter and her husband.
Wearing a short pink gown, the 67-year-old princess smiled and chatted with the Shinawatras as they walked into harbourside Rosewood Hotel for the wedding of Thaksin’s youngest daughter Paetongtarn.
Thaksin was dressed in a black suit with a red bow tie as he greeted Ubolratana with a bow, while his eldest daughter Pintongta made a Thai style wai gesture.
Thailand’s former PM arrived at the venue two hours before the reception, which was set to begin at 6pm. On his way in he said to the media in English: “I’m happy.”
Asked who will win the election, Thaksin replied: “I don’t know.”
Thaksin and his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra both now live overseas after fleeing what they say are politically motivated charges following coups that toppled their governments. — Reuters