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Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will succeed his father King Bhumibol
But Prince is believed to be a notorious womaniser with a fierce temper, whose own mother described him as 'a little bit of a Don Juan'
He has had three failed marriages and exiled his third ex-wife's family
Recent pictures showed him arriving on runway in Germany wearing a white crop top, covered in fake tattoos
In 2009, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra spoke of his doubts about Prince Maha's suitability to be king
By JAY AKBAR FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 12:06 GMT, 14 October 2016 | UPDATED: 15:35 GMT, 14 October 2016
Wearing a tight, white crop top, his body adorned with temporary tattoos and holding a white fluffy poodle, this is the 64-year-old new king of Thailand.
The coronation of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn - which has been delayed by four days while he mourns the death of his father - has shone a spotlight on his colourful past.
For the father-of-seven has three failed marriages, a love of fast jets and a reputation for having an explosive temper.
During an attempted coup in Thailand in 2014, a film was published online of his third wife dressed in nothing but a black G-string while she sang happy birthday to the royal couple's beloved pet poodle, Fufu.
Following news of revered King Bhumibol's death on Thursday, Thailand's prime minister announced that Prince Maha - described by one royal biographer as 'a man prone to violence, fast cars and dubious business deals' - will ascend to the throne held by his father for 70 years.
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Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, a rumoured notorious womaniser, will be Thailand's new king after the death of his father, King Bhumibol on Thursday. Pictured: Prince Maha in Germany in May wearing a tank top, and covered in fake tattoos being received by officials
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The appointment of Prince Maha - who has asked for a delay of four days before he assumes the throne - has raised eyebrows both at home and abroad. Pictured: Undated pictured of the new king at Disneyland
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Senior Thai officials are said to be deeply concerned with the eccentric Prince Maha. Pictured: The prince, a licensed pilot, in the cockpit of a fighter jet with one of his five children
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Thai officials, and even King Bhumibol himself, expressed reservations over his ability to rule following a string of scandals. Pictured: The Crown Prince and his father shooting guns
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Footage from 2007 shows Prince Maha throwing a birthday party for his pet poodle Fufu - who held the rank of Air Chief Marshall - at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Pictured: His third wife dressed in nothing more than a G-string to celebrate Fufu's birthday
Thailand's Crown Princess appears topless in birthday video
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'He [King Bhumibol] thought his son would be a poor king but he was a conservative man and thought a man should succeed him. There was no alternative,' biographer Andrew MacGregor Marshall told MailOnline. Pictured: Father and son in full Guards' uniform in Bangkok
In May, the Crown Prince was pictured on the runway at Munich airport wearing a skimpy, torso-baring tank top, with fake tattoos covering the small of his back, chest and arms.
The scantily clad woman standing beside him on the red carpet was Suthida Nui, a flight attendant who is believed to be his mistress.
In stark contract to his father, who had one wife and a long and happy marriage lasting 66 years until his death, the prince has been married three times.
His own mother Queen Sirikit, on a trip to the US in 1982, described him as something of a womaniser.
'My son the crown prince is a little bit of a Don Juan. He is a good student, a good boy, but women find him interesting and he finds women even more interesting, she told reporters.
Speaking at a news conference in Dallas, but clearly addressing her son, she delivered a harsh warning.
'If the people of Thailand do not approve of the behaviour of my son, then he would either have to change his behaviour or resign from the royal family,' she said.
Thai PM says Crown Prince needs time before taking the throne
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Prince Maha shocked the nation when he asked for a delay before ascending to the throne, leading to speculation that he does not want to succeed his revered father, King Bhumibol. Pictured: The Crown Prince watching a ceremony in Bangkok in 2015
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In a colourful life the prince has been married three times and has seven children. Pictured: Prince Maha arriving at the airport in Thailand to greet foreign monarchs in 2006
Thailand mourns the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
He wed his first cousin Soamsawali Kitiyakara in January 1977 and the couple had a daughter. But the marriage fell apart.
Nine months after his daughter was born, the prince had a son with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth, with whom he went on to have a total of five children.
He divorced Ms Kitiyakara in 1993. Three years later his relationship broke down with Ms Polpraserth as she fled to the UK in 1996, after a spectacular bust up.
In 2001 he wed his third wife Srirasmi Suwadee, describing her as a 'modest and patient' woman who 'never says bad things towards anyone'.
In a 2002 interview, in which he stated his intentions to settle down, he added: 'She lives a simple life and most of all, she brings warmth to the family and makes home a home.'
My son the crown prince is a little bit of a Don Juan. He is a good student, a good boy, but women find him interesting and he finds women even more interesting.
Queen Sirikit, Prince Maha's mother
In 2007, footage published online showed the couple throwing a party for his pet poodle - who held the rank of Air Chief Marshall - at the Royal Palace in Bangkok.
Princess Srirasmi, a former waitress, who sang happy birthday to the dog topless, also got on her knees and ate from a dog bowl in the same video.
The couple had a son but the marriage collapsed at the end of 2014.
Prince Maha stripped her of her royal titles and, after granting her a reported £4.5m settlement, exiled her to an undisclosed location in Thailand.
The Economist has reported the Crown Prince is 'widely loathed and feared' by his people.
The New York Post described him recently as a 'kooky prince, looking 'more court jester than prince'.
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In contrast to his father, who was married once for 66 years until his death, the prince has married three times. Pictured: Prince Maha in Paris with his daughter, Princess Sirivannavari, and third wife Princess Srirasmi in 2007
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He wed his first cousin Soamsawali Kitiyakara (left) in January 1977 but nine months after she gave birth to his daughter the prince had a son with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth
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He divorced Ms Kitiyakara in 1993. Three years later his relationship broke down with Ms Polpraserth as she fled to the UK in 1996, after a spectacular bust up. In 2001 he wed his third wife Srirasmi Suwadee (pictured with their son Dipangkom Rasmijoti), describing her as a 'modest and patient' woman who 'never says bad things towards anyone'
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But the marriage collapsed in 2014 and Prince Maha stripped her of her royal titles and, after granting her a reported £4.5m settlement, exiled her to an undisclosed location in Thailand. Pictured: Queen Sirikit of Thailand with Prince Maha (left) and Princess Rajakanya in 1953
Thais gather outside Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol died
But Thailand's lèse-majesté laws have largely protected King Bhumibol and the royal family's alleged scandals from being exposed.
Journalist Paul Handley's unauthorised biography of King Bhumibol, titled 'The King Who Never Smiles', in which he referred to the Crown Prince as a 'violent' man, was banned in Thailand because authorities said it would 'affect national security'.
In it he wrote: 'Bhumibol's most fundamental failing is the Achilles' heel of every monarchy: he has been unable to guarantee an orderly succession to a wise, selfless, and munificent king like himself.'
He's tormenting his third wife, who's living in his family compound in rural Thailand... He blocked her toilet so she has to pee outside
Journalist and Thai expert, Andrew MacGregor Marshall
Despite holding a number of military titles, including Knight of the Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems, the prince admitted to an interviewer he was unable to tie his own shoe laces aged 12 because courtiers had always done it for him.
'My parents tried to raise me normally, but around us there were too many people trying to gain favour,' he told Thai publication Dichan.
Efforts to prepare the prince for the throne began in his early teens, when he was made officer of the three branches of the Thai armed forces. At 14, he was sent to boarding school in England.
Thai officials, and even King Bhumibol himself, expressed deep concerns over his ability to rule following a string of scandals.
Andrew MacGregor Marshall, a journalist recently expelled from Thailand who has been covering the royal family for several years, told the Mail Online: 'The crown prince was a huge disappointment to [the king], and he tried several tactics to make him shape up.
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His own mother (right) described him as something of a womaniser in 1992: 'My son... is a little bit of a Don Juan. Women find him interesting and he finds women even more interesting'. Pictured Prince Maha with his parents in 1999
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The prince admitted to an interviewer he was unable to tie his own shoe laces aged 12 because courtiers had always done it for him. Pictured: Queen Sirikit with her four children
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The Economist has reported the Crown Prince is 'widely loathed and feared' by his people. Pictured: Prince Maha as a child
'He restricted his money to stop him partying. He even suggested that if the prince didn't improve, he'd break from tradition and give the throne to his daughter, Princess Sirindhorn.
'But it was all just a game. He thought his son would be a poor king but he was a conservative man and thought a man should succeed him. There was no alternative.'
In 2009, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was asked about the prince's suitability to be king.
He told The Times: 'He's not the king yet. He may not be shining (now)... but after he becomes the king I'm confident he can be shining ... it's not his time yet. But when the time comes I think he will be able to perform.'
Macgregor Marshall says he has delayed his ascensions to the throne as a PR tactic to show he is 'not a power hungry monster'.
'He should be king already but he's mysteriously said he wants to wait. Really nobody was expecting that, it was a huge shock,' he told MailOnline.
'People say he doesn't want to be king, but he does. Even as the king was fading away, he began to consolidate power and flexing his muscles.
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In 2009, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said: 'He may not be shining (now)... but after he becomes the king I'm confident he can be shining'. Pictured: The prince in bicycle campaign to mark his father's 88th birthday
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The father-of-seven has three failed marriages, a love of fast jets and a reputation for an explosive temper. Pictured: As a younger man
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Thailand is a country in mourning after the death of the revered King Bhumibol on Thursday. Pictured: Prime Minister, General Prayuth Chan-o-cha attends royal bathing ceremony at The Grand Palace, to pay respects to the late king
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'Once the crown prince has expressed his sadness and bereavement over his father, he affirms that he realizes the duties of the heir of the throne,' said the prime minister. Pictured: Thai people attend The Grand Palace to pay respects to King Bhumibol
Thais queue in front of the Grand Palace to mourn their late king
'He formed a strong alliance with Prime Minister Prayut, who's the military junta leader. Then he started appointing cronies from his inner circle to important positions in the palace.
'He's quite intelligent but he's also a very troubled guy. He's grown up with power and he doesn't know how to get affection without demanding it.'
Thailand has declared a year of mourning after his Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, died aged 88 at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said all official engagements would be toned down for the next 30 days out of respect for the deceased king, adding: 'He is now in heaven and may be looking over Thai citizens from there.'
Referring to Prince Maha, he said: 'Once the crown prince has expressed his sadness and bereavement over his father, and once the time is appropriate, he affirms that he realizes the duties of the heir of the throne.
'In regards to royal duties, he will continue to do them as the crown prince. He wishes everyone understands and does not make things chaotic.'
Read more:
Thai Coup,Thailand protests,Thailand News,Thaksin,constitution,thailand politics,amnesty bill,Thai Election,Thai News Online,Thai Newspaper,Nation News,News in Thailand,aec ,asean
Thailand’s new king is a kooky crop top-wearing playboy | New York Post
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Thailand's next king, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn | New Straits Times | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News
The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej: Amazon.co.uk: Paul M Handley: 9780300106824: Books
Thailand's next king lives in shadow of revered father | Daily Mail Online
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3835977/Thailand-s-crop-wearing-Playboy-Prince-Colourful-past-womanising-new-king-wife-sang-happy-birthday-G-string-DOG.html#ixzz4N8Zopvvu
