Thai king dismisses consort for undermining the queen

Sineenatra Wongvajirabhakdi was announced as consort three months ago

Thai royal consort Sineenat Wongvajirabhakdi with a military training aircraft in Thailand. The royal palace of Thailand released a selection of never-before-seen images and a biography of the king's newly-anointed consort in August. Born in the northern province of Nan, Sineenat graduated from the Royal Thai Army Nursing College, trained as a pilot, and served in the king's royal bodyguard unit, reaching the rank of major general in May. In October she was stripped of her titles and military ranks for "disloyalty". EPA

Thai royal consort Sineenat participates in paratrooper training, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. EPA

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn chats with Thai royal consort Sineenat on a military aircraft, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. EPA

Thai royal consort Sineenat takes part in the cremation ceremony of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. EPA

Thai royal consort Sineenat in a military aircraft, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. EPA

Thai royal consort Sineenat poses for a photograph, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. EPA

Thai royal consort Sineenat in her paratrooper uniform, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. AFP

King Maha Vajiralongkorn poses with Thai royal consort Sineenat, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. AFP

King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits with Thai royal consort Sineenat and an official, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. AFP

King Maha Vajiralongkorn stands with Thai royal consort Sineenat, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. AFP

Thai royal consort Sineenat at a firing range, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. AFP

Thai royal consort Sineenat flies a plane, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. EPA

Thai royal consort Sineenat taking part in paratrooper training, in an image released by the royal palace of Thailand in August. EPA

Thailand’s king has stripped his royal noble consort of her titles and military ranks for disloyalty, accusing her of seeking to undermine the position of his official wife for her own benefit.

Sixty-seven-year-old King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s royal command issued Monday came just three months after he granted 34-year-old Sineenatra Wongvajirabhakdi the consort title, reviving an old palace tradition of taking a junior wife.

The royal palace then released a selection of images of the former army nurse, showing her firing a weapon, piloting a plane, and preparing to parachute from a plane.

Ms Sineenatra had her title of Chao Khun Phra Sineenatra Bilasakalayani withdrawn, along with other royal and military titles and decorations.

In May, the king named longtime companion Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya his queen when they were married a few days before his formal coronation. Both the 41-year-old Suthida and Sineenatra have served as senior officers in palace security units.

Vajiralongkorn had three previous marriages.