German and Thai activists have staged a protest outside the the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in Germany where King Maha Vajiralongkorn is staying with his harem of 20 women.
The protesters have projected messages onto the front of the hotel with messages like, “why does Thailand need a King who lives in Germany?”
Despite all hotels having to close due to the crisis, the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl has applied for and received a special permit to remain open so that the Thai King could rent out all of its room for his harem of 20 women and his servants.
A spokesperson for the district office confirmed the granting of the permit, “The Garmisch-Partenkirchen district office granted the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl an exception because the guests are a single, homogeneous group of people with no fluctuation.” No other guests are allowed to stay at the hotel.
Despite several measures in the areas, such as a curfew which was only recently lifted, the King has been spotted outside with several of the women, riding bicycles.
He returned to Thailand for less than 24 hours in early April for Chakri Day. Photos were taken that day showing the King and Queen making facemasks, to show how involved they were in fighting the ongoing public health emergency for propaganda purposes. However, he has refused to return to Thailand for several holidays, such as the anniversary of his coronation.
