Bureau of the Royal Household

Bureau of the Royal Household
สำนักพระราชวัง
Samnak Phra Ratcha Wang

'The Seal of Shiva on Nandi's Back' by Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs
Agency overview

(etc.)
Headquarters Grand Palace, Thanon Na Phra Lan, Bangkok, Thailand
Annual budget THB 2,606.2 million (2011)[1]
Agency executives • Yingluck Shinawatra, Commander
• Kaeo-khwan Watcharothai, Lord Chamberlain
Website Palaces.thai.net
The building housing the Bureau of the Royal Household is located within the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok.

The Bureau of the Royal Household (Thai: สำนักพระราชวัง) is an agency of the Monarchy of Thailand and King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In addition to a range of administrative and ceremonial responsibilities, the bureau also serves as a direct conduit for the King's benevolent philanthropy.[2]

History

The history of the king's household pre-dates modern Thailand. Links with the past are preserved. For example, the importance of "institutional memory" led to the appointment in the 1980s of a nonagenarian Khun Sawet Thunapradit as "Special Consultant to the Royal Household".[3] In 2009, the Lord Chamberlain of the Bureau of the Royal Household was Keokhwan Vajarodaya.

Palaces

The Bureau is responsible for promoting and maintenance of three different royal palaces:[4]

Public relations

Some of the public relations of the monarchy are handled by officials of this bureau.[4] For example, during a period in which the king was quite ill, the Bureau's official announcements provided information about the monarch's condition.[5]

Finances

In 1932, assets of the royal family and household were seized; but much of it was restored after 1947 with the assistance of M.R. Thawiwong Thawalayasak.[6]

The monarchy's household and finances are managed by the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Crown Property Bureau respectively, these agencies are not considered part of the Thai government and all personnel are appointed by the king alone.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Annual Expenditure Budget Act, BE 2554 (2011).
  2. ↑ Iamtan, Suparat. "Royal assistance for families of bereaved, injured," The Nation (Bangkok). April 17, 2010.
  3. ↑ Scigliano, Eric. (2002). Love, War, and Circuses:, p. 102. , p. 102, at Google Books
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bureau of the Royal Household
  5. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand): Announcement of the Bureau of the Royal Household, October B.E. 2552 (2009)
  6. ↑ Handley, Paul. (2006). The King Never Smiles: a Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej, p. 97. , p. 97, at Google Books
  7. ↑ Thailand, the King

References

External links