Citizens of Thailand are currently trying to puzzle out a mystery that has to do with their king. Early last month (May), King Vajiralongkorn reportedly had respiratory problems. He was immediately hospitalised.
Recently, while attending some public events, citizens noted some major differences in his looks. Netizens stated the king had a different posture and moved differently, compared to his past self. There were online speculations that the current king is not the Thai king at all, but a stand-in.
Earlier this month, King Vajiralongkorn reappeared in public for some events. He wore a suit which showed off a visible tummy and it caught his citizens’ eyes. They were quick to note that the king was no longer as tall and thin as he had seemed previously. However, some argued that he likely had little activity during his hospital stay which could have resulted in weight gain.
Another point that was argued over was the shape of his ears. According to eagle-eyed netizens, King Vajiralongkorn’s ears seemed to have changed their shape in the time span of two months. Yet, it is widely agreed that this is not conclusive evidence. Some chalked it up to different shooting angles which may have caused the ears to look different.
Additionally, netizens commented that the king now seemed shorter than his wife, Queen Suthida. When earlier photos were drawn out for comparison, it certainly seemed as though King Vajiralongkorn was slightly taller than Queen Suthida. Nonetheless, it was argued that Queen Suthida may have worn a different pair of high heel shoes. The varying height of her shoes may have caused the king to seem shorter. The different angles of the shot and positioning of the royal couple may have also played a part in the height illusion.
Although Thai netizens are currently speculating if the king they saw is a stand-in or not, there is no real conclusive evidence. However, it can be agreed that King Vajiralongkorn moved slower and has put on weight after his hospital stay.
Source: China Press
