A king in waiting?

He’s back.

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, expelled from Thailand as a youngster, disowned, and stripped of his titles by their angry father almost three decades ago, returned to Thailand in August this year.

That visit seemed like the palace testing the political waters as it struggles to work out a succession path, with Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti often seen as unlikely – yet he has been doing more royal work – and an undead daughter.

The Nation reports: “His Majesty’s second eldest son Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse returned to Thailand on Sunday for his second visit this year to attend the nation’s Father’s Day celebrations.”

That sounds more palace-like reporting than on the previous visit when media were confused about what they could report until it became clear that Vacharaesorn was on a visit that the palace was behind.

This man who seems to want to be king is said to have posted:

Travelling to Bangkok on an Air France flight, Vacharaesorn, aged 42, posted a photo on his Facebook wall of the view from the plane window. The accompanying caption reads: “As far as the eye can see. The blue skyline. The land of Siam.”

Not Thailand?

This time he is “expected to stay in the kingdom for two weeks during which he will participate in Father’s Day events, engage in charitable activities, and deliver a special lecture to the public… He also reportedly plans to travel to other provinces.”

This kind of reporting and the careful “forgetting” of the past makes this visit appear openly and officially sanctioned. His exile is rendered as “living abroad for 27 years…”. And he’s being “royalified” all over again by the subservient media.