The 67-year-old elder sister of Thailand’s king was put forward by the Thai Raksa Chart Party of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military more than a decade ago. The surprise move is a major break in the established protocols of Thai politics. Analysts say that the princess’s plunge into politics could mark one of the biggest shifts in the balance of Thai politics in generations. Ubolratana is the elder sister King Vajiralongkorn and the eldest child of King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, who ruled from 1946 until his death in 2016. She has adopted a more approachable persona than other members of the Thai royal family, and has appeared in pop concerts, singing Christmas carols and acting in movies.

Source: Washington Post February 08, 2019 13:50 UTC