The king of Thailand has labelled his sister’s decision to stand for election as “extremely inappropriate.”
It comes after Princess Ubolratana Mahidol announced that she would run for Prime Minister in elections next March.
The move is unprecedented in Thailand – where the royal family is traditionally seen as being above day-to-day politics.
The monarchy is revered in the South East Asian country – with strict laws protecting it from criticism of any sort.
Thai Princess Ubolratana Mahidol waves outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok, 27-10-2016. Image: AP/Press Association Images
Election
Ms Ubolratana renounced her royal title when she married an American citizen in the 1970s; however, she is still considered a member of the royal family.
In an Instagram post, the 67-year-old said she had accepted a nomination from the Thai Raksa Chart (TRC) party to run for election.
She said the bid would “show my rights and freedom without any privileges above other fellow Thai citizens under the constitution.”
"Extremely inappropriate"
This afternoon, in a royal statement on Thai television, the country’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn "Involvement of a high-ranking member of the royal family in politics, in whatever way, is an act that conflicts with the country's traditions, customs, and culture, and therefore is considered extremely inappropriate."
The TRC party is allied to the country’s former Prime Minister Thanksin Shinawatra.
Mr Shinawatra was ousted from power in a coup in 2006.
The billionaire has lived in self-imposed exile since fleeing a corruption conviction in 2008.
Ms Ubolratana will be running against the coup leader and head of Thailand’s military junta, Prayut Chan-o-cha.
