The Thai royal family, also known as the Bangkok Dynasty or Chokri Dynasty, dates back to 1782 and continues to this day. The founder of this dynasty, Rama I, was made a prince (Yizi) by Emperor Cheng Sin the Great of the Thonburi Dynasty, so the royal family members of the Bangkok Dynasty used Zheng as the royal Chinese surname.
Before 1932, the monarch of the Bangkok dynasty had ** power. However, since 1932, Thailand has transformed into a constitutional monarchy.
Although the King of Thailand and his royal family have no real power under the 1997 Constitution, and the King himself is primarily the representative of the country and its integrity and unity, in reality, the Thai royal family still has considerable influence. Since the 2006 coup, the Thai royal family has effectively regained control of Thailand's military and political power.
The current monarch is Maha Vajiralongkorn (Zheng Mian, Rama X).
According to the Thai Constitution, the King is the commander-in-chief of the Thai armed forces and exercises power through the Parliament, the Cabinet and the courts.
The Thai throne is traditionally hereditary to the prince, but due to the lack of a legal male heir, the current regulations on succession to the throne stipulate that women can also inherit the throne. On July 28, 2019, King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand canonized Sininat Philatkalayanee as a "noble concubine", the first time since 1932 that the Thai royal family publicly recognized polygamy.
The history of the Thai royal family is closely linked to the history of Thailand, which has undergone several periods of political and social change. From the Sukhothai dynasty to the Bangkok dynasty, the Thai royal family has been an important force in Thailand's political and social life.
The Thai royal family has a huge influence on Thailand's economic development, and the Thai royal family is one of the largest wealth holders in Thailand, with assets including large amounts of land, real estate, businesses and other investments. Although the Thai royal family is not directly involved in political decision-making, its members have a high status and influence in Thai politics and can influence economic development policies through various channels.
In addition, the Thai royal family has carried out a lot of work in the fields of education, medical care, poverty alleviation, and environmental protection by supporting or establishing a number of charities and associations, and has great social influence among the people.
Since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand on July 1, 1975, the relations between the two countries have maintained healthy and stable development. In August 2001, the two countries issued a joint communiqué to reach a consensus on promoting strategic cooperation between China and Thailand. In April 2012, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Among them, the Thai royal family has also actively participated in Sino-Thai exchange activities. It has made great contributions to promoting cooperation between the two countries in terms of culture and education. For example, the Sino-Thai co-production film "Detective Chinatown" is a film and television cooperation project with the support of the Thai royal family.
In addition, the Thai royal family also has interactive ties with Chinese civil society, and Thai Crown Prince Maha Zakri Sirindhorn has visited China many times to participate in public welfare undertakings and charitable activities, which is widely welcomed by the Chinese people.