Formed 1895 | Website Palaces.thai.net | |
 | ||
Preceding agency Ministry of the Palace
(1895-1935) Headquarters Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok Annual budget 3.327 billion baht (FY2015) Agency executives • Prayut Chan-o-cha, Commander (as PM)
• Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Lord Chamberlain | ||
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.
Contents
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". In 2009, the Lord Chamberlain of the Bureau of the Royal Household was Keokhwan Vajarodaya.
Palaces
The bureau is responsible for promoting and maintaining three different royal palaces:
Public relations
Some of the public relations of the monarchy are handled by officials of this bureau. For example, during a period in which the king was quite ill, the bureau's official announcements provided information about the monarch's condition.
The BRH, through its Royal Ceremonies Division, is also responsible for organizing events related to the Royal Family of Thailand.
Finances
In 1932, assets of the royal family and household were seized. Much of it was restored after 1947 with the assistance of M.R. Thawiwong Thawalayasak.
The monarchy's household and finances are managed by the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Crown Property Bureau, respectively. They are quasi-government agencies of the Royal Thai Government with nominal cabinet representation on their respective governing boards but with the majority of personnel, in practice, being appointed by the palace.