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Personal Flags of the Royal Family (Thailand)

See also:

Royal Flags (Thailand)
Thailand

Introduction

I have just come back from a trip to Thailand. I saw many samples of the present King's flag and Queen's flag which are quite different from the royal standards in FOTW (Garuda on yellow background). (...) My Thai friend explained that these flags are hoisted two weeks before and after the birthdays of the present King and Queen – the Queen's birthday was about to take place when I visited Thailand. So I think these are royal personal flags besides royal flags and each King and Queen has his/her own personal flag.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 10 Aug 2001

The described flags seem to be the ones created in 1996 in the 50th anniversary of the rule of Phumipol (1946-96). They show in Banderas.

Jaume Ollé, 10 Aug 2001

Does that mean that every Thai king and queen has her/his own personal flag, in addition to her/his royal standard? And if that is the case, what for and when is each of these two flags used?

Santiago Dotor, 20 Sep 2002

Yes, the following royal family members have their own personal standards:

H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX): dark yellow flag with his emblem
H.M. Queen Sirikit: light blue flag with her emblem
H.R.H. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn: dark yellow flag with his emblem
H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn: purple flag with her emblem
H.R.H. Princess Chuabhorn: orange flag with her emblem
H.R.H. Princess rinakharinthara (King's mother): white flag with her emblem

Anyone can easily buy these flags at flag shops in Thailand to use on the birthday of family members. I have seen these personal standards many times in Bangkok. The personal standard seems more popular than the royal standard in Thailand and in fact flag shops do not sell royal standards. So I guess personal standards are often used by Thai people and royal standards by the royal family or government.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 20 Sep 2002

So these are rather "flags to salute the king (etc.)" than "personal flags" – actually that makes them scarcely "personal" at all!

Santiago Dotor, 23 Sep 2002

The Thai royal family are very much loved by the Thai people, who use these flags to salute them, but these flags bear royal family members' personal emblems and are for personal use also.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 24 Sep 2002