Her Prime Highness?

While some condemn the British Royal Family for being dependent on state handouts, I find myself quietly amused by the news that a member of the Thai royal family is being criticised for getting herself a job.

Okay, to be fair, the 'job' she has got is the nomination for prime minister via the party that is associated with Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist party that is anti-royalist and that was also ousted by the current ruling military. She's probably not getting paid much for it, but her leading critic is her brother, the king.

Thai politics and the Thai royal family are like oil and water - they are not supposed to mix. The princess married a commoner some years ago and renounced all her royal ties, so that even though she is now divorced, she is claiming that she can engage with politics.

Criticism of the Thai monarchy is considered treason, but these days, criticism of politicians the world over is fashionable. I wonder whether criticism of a semi-royal politician will diminish the Thai monarchy itself.

Two links if you haven't seen the story, one in the Washington Post, the other from the BBC.