Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the King of Thailand to a state visit in Paris – but reports suggest the trip may be more about pleasure than politics.
The primary reason for King Maha Vajiralongkorn travelling to France just two weeks after the death of his eldest daughter is said to be the acquisition of a new gadget – namely a private jet.
This is the first official state visit by a Thai monarch to France in 66 years, and only the third in their 170-year diplomatic friendship.
France has rolled out its full pomp and pageantry for the King, who arrived with his wife Queen Suthida and daughter Princess Sirivannavari on Sunday morning, with a jam-packed five-day schedule.
But the occasion was reportedly upgraded to a full state visit at the last minute, after initially being planned around a single key appointment.
On Wednesday, Rama X will visit the Airbus aircraft factory in Toulouse.
Here, he will peruse the stock with the intention of buying a new plane, according to German newspaper BILD.
Thai diplomatic sources told the paper this date was the first to be set in the diary, and the rest of the state visit was hastily arranged around it.
French President Emmanuel Macron, center right, and his wife Brigitte Macron, right, pose with Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, center left, and his wife Queen Suthida, right
Mr Macron has pulled out all the stops and arranged a packed five-day schedule for his Thai guests
Princess Sirivannavari, the King’s second daughter, has joined the trip – just weeks after the death of her older sister
Rama X is a well-known aircraft enthusiast, holding a pilot license for both military and civilian planes.
He also boasts one of the most extensive royal aircraft fleets in the world, which already includes 38 private jets and helicopters.
The jewel in his collection is a Boeing 777-300 – a twin-engine wide-body airliner with capacity for over 400 passengers, said to have cost around £420 million.
A delegation of around 100 landed at Paris-Orly Airport just before 9am on Sunday and were greeted on the tarmac by a representative of Mr Macron.
They then drove into the centre of the capital and took up residence at the luxury Hotel Le Meurice in Paris.
The formalities kicked off on Monday with a reception at the Hôtel des Invalides with Mr Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron.
The King then headed to the Élysée Palace for official talks with the French President.
In the evening, Mr Macron and his wife hosted a formal State Dinner to honour the royal guests.
The King’s primary purpose for visiting France was reportedly a shopping trip to the Airbus factory in Toulouse (pictured)
The visit comes just two weeks after the King’s eldest daughter passed away, following three years in a coma.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was Rama X’s first child, born to his first wife and cousin Princess Soamsawali.
She collapsed while exercising her dogs in December 2022, with doctors diagnosing a severely irregular heartbeat.
The Palace said on June 12: ‘The medical team provided the closest and most intensive care possible, but her condition continued to decline progressively.’
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was highly accomplished, having trained as a lawyer with two post-graduate degrees from Cornell University in the US, and was tipped as a likely successor to the throne.
The King has five more children from his second wife and one from his third, but none from his present spouse, Queen Suthida.
The French state visit is being used as an opportunity to raise the profile of his second daughter, Princess Sirivannavari.
